THE 



REPUBLIC OF MEXICO 



1882 



With Revised and Corrected IVIap 

r 



LORENZO CASTRO 





THOMPSON & MOREAU, PRINTERS 

Nos. 51 & 53 Maiden Lane 

1882 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1 882, 

By LORENZO CASTRO, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



THOMPSON & MOREAU, PRINTERS, 51 & 53 MAIDEN LANE, -N. Y 










INTRODUCTION 



The author of this little work has resided in Western 
Texas, the frontier of Texas, and the interior of Mexico for 
the last thirty-five years. His father, Henry Castro, for 
services rendered to the Republic of Texas in early days, 
received several grants of land in Texas, one of them now 
comprising the county of Medina, and part of Bexar, Ban- 
dora, Uvalde, Frio, Zavala and McMullen ; he colonized his 
grant with immigrants brought principally from Alsace and 
Lorraine and the Rhenish provinces. Having brought to 
Texas, in 27 ships, 5,200 colonists from the year 1842 to 
1847, he founded the town of Castro ville, the present county 
seat of Medina County, and the villages of Quihi, Vanden- 
bergh and Dhanis. 

Before Henry Castro brought his people from Europe 
to Texas, the country west of San Antonio was a wilderness 
only inhabited by the Lipan and Comanche Indians. The 
San Pedro Creek could then be considered the frontier. 
The difficulties that Henry Castro had to overcome to in- 
duce his people, after he had brought them from Europe, to 
remain, would hardly be believed. After spending a large 
fortune and several years of arduous labor, his settlements 
were permanently fixed, and are now in a high state 



iv INTRODUCTION. 

of prosperity. The State of Texas honored his memory as 
the pioneer of Western Texas by giving his name to one of 
the new counties. 

The writer, who assisted his father in his efforts to 
colonize Western Texas, has, since the Confederate war, 
resided and travelled all over Mexico. He is well acquainted 
with the country, its language, laws, customs and the manners 
of its people. He has, since the War of Secession, devoted his 
entire time to make Mexico better known than it is by the 
generality of the American people ; to develop its untold 
mining wealth, its agriculture and industry, and promote 
immigration which will be well supported and encouraged 
by the best and most respectable citizens of the country. 

The writer has consulted the following distinguished 
authors : Baron Humboldt, Lucas Alaman, Michel Cheva- 
lier, Lerdo de Tejada, Jesus Hermosa, Alvarez y Duran, 
Dr. Eleuterio Gonzales, Carlos Maria Bustamante, the Re- 
ports of the Minister of Public Works, and lastly the valu- 
able datas collected by the distinguished statistician Don 
Adrian Busto. 

Americans who desire to emigrate to Mexico can con- 
sult this little work with confidence, and if they find the 
same useful, the undersigned will have accomplished his 

object. 

LORENZO CASTRO. 

New York, April 5, 1882. 



MEXICO 



ITS FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 

The Government of Mexico is a Federal Republic, composed 
actually of twenty-seven States, one Territory and the Federal 
District. 

The independence of Mexico from Spain was proclaimed for 
the first time on the night of the 15th of September, 1 810, in the 
Tov^rn of Dolores, State of Guanajuato, by the curate of the parish, 
Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, seconded by Captain Ignacio 
AUande, Mariano Abasolo, Don Juan Aldama and other persons 
of distinction. The independence was finally effected by Don 
Augustin Iturbide, commanding the Army of the Three Guarantees, 
on the 27th day of September, 1821. 

The present Constitution of Mexico was promulgated on the 
5th of February, A. D. 1857, and is generally known as the 
Constitution of iSj"/. It was amended September 25th, 1873, 
establishing the Senate, and prohibiting the reelection of the Pre- 
sident of the Republic and the Governors of States to a second 
term of office. May 5th, 1877. 

The Mexican Government is actually divided in three bodies 
entirely independent from each other, viz.: the Executive, the Legis- 
lative and the Judiciar}\ 

THE EXECUTIVE POWER. 

The present incumbent, Constitutional President Citizen 
General Manuel Gonzales, was elected July, 1880, for the term of 
four years, from December 1st, 1880, consequently his term of 
office will expire on the 30th of November, 1884. 

In case of death of the President, the Constitution of 1857 
provides that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court becomes the 
President of the Republic. 



The executive power resides in the President of the Republic 
and a Cabinet composed of the following Secretaries of State, viz. : 

One Secretary of Foreign Relations, 
One Secretary of the Interior, 
One Secretary of the Treasury, 
One Secretary of War and Marine, 
One Secretary of Justice, 
One Secretary of Public Works. 

THE LEGISLATIVE POWER. 

This branch of the Government emanating directly from the will 
of the people, resides into two high bodies, the Senate and the 
Chamber of Deputies. The Senate is renewed by halves ever)^ two 
years, and the deputies hold their mandates also for two years. 

THE JUDICIAL POWER. 

This important branch of the Government is composed of a 
tribunal known as the Supreme Court of Justice, composed of 
a Chief Justice known as the President of the Tribunal, eleven 
Associate Justices known as Magistrates, and two Attorneys-Genet-al, 
one known as Fiscal Attorney-General and Procurador, or Pro- 
curer or Solicitor General. 

The following duties devolves upon the different Secretaries of 
State. 

The Secretary of State and of Foreign Relations has charge of 
all the foreign relations, the consulates, the delineation and pre- 
servation of the limits of the Republic, the naturalization of foreign- 
ers, the recording of commercial houses and foreign companies, 
the legalization of signatures ; he is also the depositor of the great 
seal of the nation, the keeper of the national archives and has 
charge of the ceremonial and official publications. 

The duties of the Secretary of State and of the Interior consist in 
supervising all general elections. National Congress, constitutional 
reforms, territorial divisions and boundaries between the States ; it 
is his duty to see that the Constitution is enforced, he has charge 
of the relations between the Executive and the different States, 
public tranquillity, national guard, amnesties, civil register, right of 



citizenship, right of reunion (meetings), liberty of the press, liberty 
of religion and the police of that department. He has charge of 
the public security and salubrity, the Post Office, the National 
festivities, epidemics, vaccination ; he has also charge of the political 
government of the Federal District and its administration, the super- 
vision of public benevolence, hospitals, asylums, prisons, peniten- 
ciaries, houses of correction and public printing. 

The Secretary of Justice and Public Instruction has charge of 
the Supreme, Circuit and District Courts, of the controversy that may 
arise betv/een the Federal tribunals, of cases of piracy, expropria- 
tions for public utility. Codes, of the collection of laws and decrees, 
of the judicial organization in the Federal District and Territories, of 
the freedom of teaching, professional titles, national colleges, special 
schools, academies, and scientific, artistic and literary associations, 
libraries, museums, national antiquities, lawyers and notaries, and 
pardons. 

To the Secretary of Public Works belongs the department of 
statistics, liberty of industry and labor, agriculture, commerce, 
mining, exclusive privileges, internal improvements (including the 
supervision of highways, railroads, bridges, canals, light-houses, 
telegraphs, colonization, public lands, public monuments, exhibi- 
tions of agricultural and industrial products, also textile and mining 
products, drainage of the valley of Mexico, the supervision of all 
works of public utility or ornamentation done under the patronage or 
at the cost of the national treasury, the preservation of the national 
palaces and all public buildings), and has charge of geographical and 
astronomical survey and observations, scientific explorations, and 
weights and measures. 

To the Secretary of the Treasury and Public Credit belongs 
the administration of all federal revenues, tariff of maritime custom- 
houses, mints, loans and public debt, and the nationalization of 
church property. 

The Secretary of War and Marine has charge of the standing 
army, the national navy, the national guard (when in the service of 
the government), the military and naval schools, military hospitals, 
military legislation, military colonies, judgments of court martials, 
letters of marque, the inspection of forts, quarters, arsenals, military 
stores and federal depots, and the wild Indians. 

The judicial power is composed of the Supreme Court of Jus- 



tice, and the District and Circuit Courts. The first is composed of 
eleven magistrates and four supernumerary magistrates, and two 
attorneys general, one styled Fiscal and the other Procurador. 
These supreme judges are elected by the people and hold their 
mandates for the term of six years from the date of their taking 
the oath of office. During absence, or in case of incapacity or 
death, the President of the Supreme Court becomes President of 
the Republic. 

The Government of the several States of the Republic is also 
divided into three distinct branches : the Legislative, Executive and 
Judicial Powers, taking respectively the names of Legislature, Gov- 
ernment of the State, and Supreme Court of Justice of the State. 

BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 

The Republic of Mexico is bounded as follows : On the south 
by the Republic of Guatemala and the English territory of Balize ; 
on the north by the United States of America. This dividing line 
between the two nations, as settled by the last treaty of December 
30th, 1853, known as the Gadsden purchase, begins at the mouth of 
the Rio Grande, or Brazo del Norte, and, following its course until 
it strikes the 31° 47' parallel of north latitude ; thence west, follow- 
ing the same parallel for 100 English miles ; thence south to paral- 
lel 31° 21', and following the same parallel until it strikes the ill*' 
meridian from Greenwich ; thence northwest in a direct line until it 
strikes the Rio Grande on parallel 32^ 29' 45" ; thence following 
the course of said river, until the dividing line between the 
two Californias is reached ; thence following said dividing line until 
the shores of the bay of San Diego on the Pacific Coast is reached, 
a marine league below the town of San Diego. The greatest length 
of the Mexican Republic from northwest to southeast, drawing a 
straight line from the southern extremity of the State of Chiapas 
to a league south of the port of San Diego in Upper California, is 
750 leagues of 5,000 varas, or 1,973^ American miles; and its 
greatest width taken on the 26th degree of north latitude is 224 
leagues, or 589 American miles. Its coast extends along the Gulf of 
Mexico and the Caribean Sea for 1,613 miles, and for 4,168 }4 miles 
along the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California. Its line of 
frontier with the United States extends for 1,789)^ miles, and the 



extent of its southern frontier is of 532 miles. The present area of 
the Republic amounting to 110,317 square Mexican leagues, or 
766,088 square miles. 

According to the distinguished Mexican historian, Don Lucas 
Alaman, the territory' of Mexico, when its independence from Spain 
was established, contained an area of 216,012 square leagues, of 
5,000 varas in length, or 4, 1 79 metres. The Mexican square leagues 
contain 1,747 hectares, or 4,428 American acres. He sets the same 
down, at the time he published his work upon Mexico, at 106,067 
square leagues, the United States having acquired by treaty 109,945 
square leagues. 

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. 

The territory- of the Mexican Republic extends from the 13** to 
the 320 of north latitude and the 14° 20' of east longitude, and the 
270 25' of west longitude from the city of Mexico. 

BAYS. 

The principals are those of Campeche, Island of Carmen, As- 
cencion and Espiritu Santo on the east coast of Yucatan, and those 
of Acapulco, Manzanillo (on the Pacific) and those of Lower 
California. 

GULFS. 

There are three in the Republic, viz. : the Gulf of California, or 
the Sea of Cortez, that separates Lower California from the State of 
Sonora ; the Gulf of Tehuantepec on the Pacific, and the Gulf of 
Mexico on the Atlantic. 

CAPES. 

The principal ones are the Cabo Rojo, that of Catoche on the 
coast of Yucatan, that of San Lucas in Lower California, and that 
of Corrientes on the coast of the State of Jalisco. 



ISLANDS. 

The Republic of Mexico possesses many of more or less mag- 
nitude. Among the principals the following can be mentioned : 



San Ignacio, Angel de Guardia, Salsipuedes, Tiburon, Tortuga, 
del Carmen, San Jose and Cerralvo in the Gulf of California. 
Those of Venados, of N. W., of del Medio, of the S, E., Santa Cata- 
lina, and others in the Pacific Ocean. Those of Cozumel, of Can- 
cun, de Mujeres and Contey in the Carribean Sea, and those of 
Jollox and del Carmen in the Gulf of Mexico, 

RIVERS. 

Unfortunately for Mexico but a few of its rivers are navigable, 
and that only for a short distance ; below is given the length of the 
principal streams of the Republic, viz.: 



Rio Bravo [Rio Grande] 


. 600 leagues 


Rio Concho, State of Chihuahua 


130 


Rio de Santiago .... 


. 208 


Rio de los Balzas 


161 


Rio Yaqui 


.130 


Rio de Grijalva 


132 


Rio Usumacinta .... 


. 131 " 


Rio Mezquetal .... 


115 


Rio Panuco 


. no 


Rio del Altar .... 


108 


Rio de Nazos .... 


. 103 


Rio de Flagualilla . 


103 


Rio de Sinaloa .... 


. 107 


Rio del Fuerte .... 


105 


Rio Mayo 


. 80 " 


Rio de Ures 


80 " 


Rio de Alvarado .... 


. 62 


Rio de Culiacan 


60 


Rio de Goazacalcos 


. 35 



The Rio de Moctezuma, that takes its rise in the hills that 
separate the Valley of Mexico from that of Toluca, and which, 
after uniting its waters with the Panuco, empties into the Gulf of 
Mexico, might be canalized and, probably will be some day, thereby 
making an internal water communication and a drain for the Valley 
of Mexico. 



MOUNTAINS. 

Among the principal peaks in the Mexican Republic are the 
following : 
In the State of Mexico — 

1. The Popocatepetl, 5,400 metres. 

2. The Ixtacihualt, 4,775 metres. 

3. The Nevado de Toluca, 4,440 metres. 

4. The Ajusco, 3,575 metres. 

In the State of Vera-Cruz — 

5. The Peak of Orizaba, 5,298 metres. 

6. The Cofre de Perote, 4,089 metres. 

In the State of Coliina — 

7. The Volcano of Colima, 3,396 metres. 

In the State of Oxaca — 

8. The Zempoaltepetl, 3,368 metres. 

In the State of Michoacan — 

9. The Quinceo, 3,324 metres. 

In the State of Zacatecas — 

10. The Veta Grande, 2,800 metres. 

11. The Bufa de Zacatecas, 2,618 metres. 

In the State of Durango — 

12. Cerro Mercado, 2,500 metres. 

In the State of Chiapas — 

13. The Soconusco, 2,400 metres. 

In the State of Chihuahua — 

14. The Jesus Maria, 2,511 metres. 

15. The Tabacotes, 2,359 metres. 

16. The Cerro Puelo, 2,124 metres. 

17. The Cusihuiriachic, 1,978 metres. 

18. The Cerro del Coronal, 1,608 metres. 

In the State of Michoacan — 

19. The Volcano de Zorullo, 1,297 metres. 

In the State of falisco — 

20. The Bufa de Boianos, 1,250 metres. 

21. The Mineral de Bolaiios, 1,025 metres. 



FORESTS AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. 



Among the trees of the forests are found the following. We 
give their names in Spanish, or Mexican dialects, with a translation 
into English, and their technical names in botany when possible. 



SPANISH. 


ENGLISH. 


LATIN. 


Guachocares, 






Quiebrahachas, 


A kind of Fir. 




Robles, 


Oak tree. 


Fraxinus 


Pinos, 


Pine, 


Pinus. 


Olmos, 


Elm. 


Ulmus. 


Nogales. 






Hayas, 


Beach tree. 


Fagus. 


Encinas, 


Live oak, 


Quereus ilex. 


Abetos. 






Cedros, 


Cedar, 


Cedro de America. 


Caobas, 


Mahogany, 


Swietenia mahogani, 


Guachapillines. 






Palmas reales, 


Royal palmetto. 




Ceibas negras. 






Sabinos, 


Sabine. 




Palo amarillo, 


Yellow wood. 




/\.ioe. 
Topinuranos. 






J^ulO gulCuuO. 

Madera de Zopilote. 






Palillo. 






Ebanos, 


Ebony. 




Palo de hierro, 


Iron wood. 




Palo brazo (a tree whose shade irritates the masculine sex). 


Palo rosa, 


Rosewood. 




Guamochil 






Retama. 






Acahuiste, 




Conifera. 


Azumiate, 




Maconia. 


Balsam 0, 




Amyridacea 


Cacao (female), 




Anacordiasea. 


Cacao (male), 




Anacordiasea 


Cherry, 







SPANISH. 

Cimal. 
Cuayolote. 
Espino bianco. 
Esquisuchil. 
Escabo ordinario. 
Alcamban. 
Huisachi 
Laurel. 
Leoncillo. 
Mamey. 
Mecacahuil. 
Naranjo, 
Palo Maria. 
Palo bianco, 
Pochote. 
Pixlta. 

Quechulahuacate. 
Sochimahuit (black), 
Sochimahuit (yellow), 
Tesoloahuacate. 
Teolate, 

Tepehuage bianco, 
Teamole. 
Tlascal, 
Cacao. 

Copalillo (common). 
Cholahuite. 
Duraznillo. 
Temazcalchihua 1 . 
Tehuiztle. 
Ramon. 
Frijolillo. 
Ispepe. 

Zempoalehual. 
Aceitunillo. 
Ahuacate chico. 
\ Algodoncillo, 
Ahocoahuitl. 



ENGLISH. 



LATIN. 



Orange, 
Huckleberry. 



Citrus. 
Elnica. 



Laurinea. 

Laurinea. 

Con if era. 
Mimosa. 

Conifera, 



Malvacea. 



10 



SPANISH. 


ENGLISH. 


LATIN. 


Amargo. 






Amargoso. 






Ahuacatillo fino. 






Arrayan. 






Asajarillo (male), 




Sympl. Linonc. 


Asajarillo (female), 




Sympl. Linonc. 


Axocopa. 






Almacigo, 


Mastic tree. 




xi UuCOneCOS, 

Brazil, 


Dye-wood, 


Cisalpinei Brasilienses 


Acacia. 


A shrub. 




Albases. 






Campeche, 


Logwood, 


Hematopilis Campe- 
chicanus. 


Fresno, 


Ash, 


Fraximus. 


Tepeguage. 






Picea, 


Silver fir. 


Pinus picea. 


Taray, 




Tamarisco. 


Aliso, 


Alder tree. 


Betula almus. 


Palo Colorado, 


Redwood. 




Camzchm. 






Cobano. 






Arrayan, 


Myrtle, 


Myrtus corromusus. 


Guayacan, 


Lignum-vitae, 


Guaiacum. 


Azafran, 


Saffron, 


Crocus Santus. 


Peomia. 






Oregano, 


Wild majoran, 


Origanum vulgar. 


Haba, 


A kind of pulu, 


Haba comun. 


Madera blanca. 


White-wood. 




Enebro, 


Common juniper, 


Juniperos. 


Ocote. 






Nazareno. 






Copal, 


Copal. 




Amapa. 






Hovo. 


POPULATION. 





Baron Humboldt says that in 1804 the white population of 
Mexico was in the proportion of sixteen to every hundred inhabit- 



11 

ants. The distinguished historian, Lucas Alaman, says that out of 
the population of Mexico in 1808, which he estimates at six millions 
souls, one million two hundred thousand were of Spanish blood (in 
that number he includes sixty thousand European Spaniards domi- 
ciled in Mexico), about two million four hundred thousand of Indian 
blood, and the balance of mixed blood. The proportion of inhabit- 
ants of pure white blood is larger in the northern States than in the 
interior States of the Republic. 

The distinguished statesman, Don Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, 
who succeeded President Juarez to the presidency of Mexico, in a 
statistical sketch of the Republic, that he published in 1856, set down 
the population of Mexico at 7,829,564 inhabitants, and its area at 
110,317 square leagues. 

It is probable that to-day the population is nearer twelve mil- 
lions than any other figure. 

CHARACTER OF THE POPULATION. 

The Mexican Indian, who forms the largest portion of the 
population, is of a bronze color, peculiar to most of the natives of 
the American continent. He is of medium stature, his hands and 
feet are small ; the palm of his hands and soles of his feet are of a 
lighter color than the balance of his body. He is well proportioned 
in form, with a narrow forehead, black eyes, black straight hair, 
with the exterior of his eyes slightly raised toward the temples, 
beard scarce, and very little hair on the body. The women in gen- 
eral are pretty, their speech is sweet, and their countenance ex- 
tremely modest. 

The Mexican Indian has a dignified appearance : he is of a 
melancholy disposition — is inclined to silence and solitude ; his man- 
ners are genteel and passionate ; he is inclined to dissimulate, and 
his physionomy never show the ardent passions that may animate 
him within ; he is constant in his affections ; his fidelity is extraor- 
dinary. One of the mam reasons why in Mexico the Indian has 
preserved his race pure, is because he very rarely contracts matri- 
mony or relations with women that are not of his race and class. 
He is not much addicted to labor, his sobriety is extreme, his w^ants 
are but few, and as soon as he has acquired enough to satisfy them 
he will cease his exertions ; with those defects that are inherent to 
constitution and character, they have many quaUties. 



They have but little inventive genius, and having little imagina- 
tion their speech is short ; but this should be attributed to their long 
ill-treatment by the Spaniards for 300 years, and their want of 
education. 

In regard to his physical force, although far from equaling 
the negro or the white man, probably on account of the small quan- 
tity and the bad quality of the nourishment, his constancy to his 
labor and his great power of endurance makes up his deficiency of 
physical force. 

At the beginning of this century the negro population of Mexico 
did not exceed 10,000 souls. 

Population, according to latest data in 1881, 10,025,649 inhabit- 
ants of all colors; this includes foreigners residmg inthe country. 



ANTIQUITIES. 

In the State of Chiapas, in the Valley of Quixte, is to be seen 
two stones in the shape of a tongue, three yards in length and two 
yards and two-thirds in width. To these two rocks the Indians pay 
great respect, taking off their hats to them ; they adorn them with 
flowers, which, after they have dried, they carry off as relics ; they 
kneel and pray to these rocks, as if they were still practising 
paganism. 

The ruins of Palenque, so much noted for their grandeur and 
varied sculpture, are also in this State. Ruins of many large In- 
dian cities, which attest a high degree of civilization, are found 
scattered in this same State. 

Many interesting antiquities are found in the State of Oajaca, 
among the most noted is the ancient palace of Mitla. 

In the State of Yucatan are to be found very interesting ruins 
on account of their vast proportions ; among them those of Uxmal, 
which are in a better state of preservation than those of Palenque. 
The structure called " La Casa del Enano " (the dwarf's palace) is 
amongst the most interesting on account of its fine sculptures 

Antiquities of high interest are found in the State of Tlaxcala, 
among them the portraits of four of their ancient senators made on 
some leaves of the maguey plant ; the fountain in which the dis- 
tinguished prince and poet Xicotencalt was baptized, and many 
others. 



13 

In the State of Chihuahua, the ruins of Casa Grande, on the 
river of the same name, supposed to have been built by the Astecs 
in their migration to the Valley of Mexico. 

In caves situated in the mountains of the Laguna country, 
that belongs to the State of Coahuila, Indian mummies have been 
discovered in the late years. 

ETYMOLOGY OF THE EXPRESSION OR WORD 
" MEXICO." 

It originated from the chief Ocite, that degenerated into 
MexiU, whose name the country assumed in consideration of the 
services he had rendered, and which the Spaniards corrupted into 
Mexico. The word Mejico, in the Astec language, signifies place 
or residence of the war god, called Mexitle or Huitzilopochtli. 

DIALECTS. 

The national language is the Castilian. Amongst the natives, 
various dialects, the languages of their forefathers, are still spoken ; 
the principal ones in our days are : the Astec or Mejican, the Oto- 
mite, the Tarasco, the Zapoteco, the Misteco, the Mazahua, the 
Poloque, the Zotzil, the Maya language, and many others ; the dia- 
lects most generally spoken are the Astec, Otomite (in the Sierra 
Gorda country), and the Mazahua. 

CLIMATE. 

Most of the territory that now forms the Republic of Mexico, 
which was so greatly reduced by the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo, 
is almost equally divided by the line of the equator, and Umited 
north and south by the tropics. This vast space was formerly 
known as the torrid zone, because it was supposed that on account 
of its extremely warm temperature it was hardly inhabitable for 
man. It is true that this zone, where the level of the land is but 
slightly above that of the Ocean, presents the following feature : 
Near a luxurious vegetation, the heat is so great that the white 
man cannot perform any arduous labor, and he is necessarily 
compelled to remain inactive, almost constantly shut up between 



14 

thick walls, and have his field labor, particularly that kind that has 
to be performed in the sun, done by a race better constituted to 
stand the rays of the burning sun. When near the coast, the 
vicinity of the sea temperates in a great measure the burning 
influence of the Aster King, but when the land presents the vast 
surface of a continent, heat becomes intense, unless favored with 
an exceptional configuration, as is the case with Mexico, I mean to 
say with high altitudes. The higher the altitude of a country, the 
lower is its temperature, so much so that it would seem that he 
was leaving the equator for the north pole. Under the line of the 
equator can be found perpetual ice and a mean temperature equal 
to that of Iceland. 

The great mass of the Mexican territory, in lieu of presenting 
a country of low altitude, as compared with the level of the sea, like 
the country along the banks of the Niger, in Africa, or the country- 
along the banks of the Amazone River, in South America, consti- 
tute a high plateau, that presents on each of its flanks a rapid 
inclined plane of heavy grade to the shores of the Atlantic and 
Pacific oceans. It is certainly not one of the least privileges of the 
Mexican plateau to be situated at elevations which are most favor- 
able to the development of the Caucasian race, both on account of 
its healthfulness and products. It was also on that account that 
prior to the conquest of the country by the Spaniards, it was 
already the seat of a remarkable civilization. The Cordillera, after 
it strikes the Mexican territory, spreads out so as to occupy the 
greatest portion of the country situated between the two oceans, 
hence a region of country suspended above the ocean at a height, 
in the southern portion of the Republic, — as for instance about the 
cities of Puebla, Mexico and in the Mixteca — of 4,500 to 5,000 
American feet. The city of Puebla is situated at an altitude of 2,196 
metres. The City of Mexico, at an altitude of 3,274 metres. North of 
Mexico, the fine city of Guanajuato, so celebrated for the rich silver 
mines that are worked in its neighborhood, is situated at an altitude 
of 2,084 metres, that is a little below the level of the capital. From 
the surface of this plateau rises several peaks which are covered 
with perpetual snow, such as the two at the foot of which are built, 
on the south side, the fine city of Puebla, and on the north, the cap- 
ital of Mexico. Those two mountains have preserved to this day 
their Aztec names : one, the Istaccihuatl (the white woman), and 



15 

the other, the Popocatapetl (smoking mountain), reach respectively 
the altitude of 4,786 metres and 5,500 metres. A short distance 
from the City of Mexico, is situated the peak known as the Nevada 
de Toluca (snow mountain of Toluca) which reaches the altitude of 
4,621 metres. Those projections of the plateau are mere dots com- 
pared with the immense extent of the same. 

The six highest mountains in Mexico are the three above men- 
tioned, the peak of Orizaba, the Coffre de Perote and the volcano 
of Colima situated almost on a parallel line with the equator. 
Excepting the narrow strip of country marked by those high peaks, 
Mexico offers a plateau extending northward, with undulations that 
do not materially change their altitude for long distances. Immense 
plains, that at one time were the beds of vast lakes, follow each 
other, and only separated by low mountains that hardly ever reach 
in altitude 2,000 feet. In altitude, this plateau equals the 
height of the Alpine mountains of Europe, which have a very cold 
climate ; the former, on account of its being situated near the equa- 
tor, is found with a temperate climate. This plateau maintains 
its great elevation northwardly to a point further than the tropic of 
Cancer ; it really begins about latitude 18 and ends at latitude 40, 
giving it a development of 22 degrees, or 2,440 kilometres. 

The two slopes of this long plateau, as one descends to the 
banks of either oceans and approaches the sea, presents the 
highest temperature. The grade being very rapid causes sudden 
changes in the climate and vegetation. The traveler who as- 
cends or descends this inclined plane passes through the most 
picturesque and marvellous contrasts. If, for instance, he leaves 
the plateau for the coast, he first passes through forests of fir 
trees, like those of Europe ; then fields of olive trees, grape 
vines, wheat or corn, and now and then spaces filled by all the 
variety of the cactus plant, and fields of magueys {agare Ame- 
ricana) ; then further, forests of orange trees, wild cotton, bananas, 
coffee trees, sugar cane, fields of indigo, cacao, and finally all the 
great variety of tropical fruits, with their bright colors, their deli- 
cious scent and flavors, which indicates a great natural richness, un- 
equalled in the world, and susceptible of being easily improved. 

To distinguish the various cHmates and products of Mexico, 
the Spaniards have always divided the country into three different 
zones, to which they have given characteristic names. These 



16 

zones could themselves be subdivided into innumerable others, ac- 
cording to their higher or lower altitudes or exposition to the rays of 
the sun. The first of these three zones, named " Tterra Caliente " 
(torrid land), begins on the coast and extends to a certain height 
on the inclined plane by which the plateau is ascended. Vegetable 
produces are here of great exhuberance, caused by the very high tem- 
perature and by its numerous running streams. This zone has a 
very particularly active vegetation on the eastern flank of the pla- 
teau (Atlantic side), because the prevailing winds, the trade-winds, 
reach the low lands impregnated with all the dampness they have 
gathered on their long course over the surface of the ocean. It is 
also distinguished from the other two by its cultures, which are 
altogether tropical. Unfortunately, in the vicinity of its ports on 
the Atlantic side, its coast is desolated by the yellow fever, known 
as " vomito." 

Half way above the inclined plane leading to the plateau, the 
second zone, known as Tterra Templada (temperate land), is 
reached. This portion of Mexico has a mean annual temperature of 
18 to 20 degrees (Reaumur), the thermometer scarcely varying during 
the whole year, so that its inhabitants are blessed with a perpetual 
Spring. This region is one of the most deligthful in the world, the 
best type of which is found about the cities of Xalapa, Orizaba 
and Chilpancingo. This zone possesses a vegetation nearly as 
active and as vigorous as that of the coast, but without its burning 
heaven and the poisonous miasmas of the sea-shore, and none of 
the innumerable poisonous insects, which constantly torment the 
inhabitants of the torrid zone, are found in the temperate zone. 
This zone, where water is found in abundance, as it is also 
found in the neighborhood of Xalapa and some other districts of 
Mexico, where snow-peaks, like those of Orizaba and the Coffre 
de Perote, feed numerous little streams, is a perfect paradise. 

Above the temperate zone is found the third, known as the 
"' Tterra Fria " (cold land), so named by the Spaniards on ac- 
count of the analogy of its climate with that of the two Castilles, 
but most Europeans find the climate of this zone very mild. 

The mean temperature of Mexico and the greater portion of the 
plateau is 17 degrees (Reaumur) ; it is a little below that of Naples, 
and the same as the three months of summer in Paris, France. The 
variations or changes from a season to the other are much less 



17 

felt than in the most temperate climate of European countries. 
During the season called winter, in the city of Mexico, the mean 
temperature never falls below 13 degrees. 

A country favored with such physical constitution, can unite 
the most varied productions, not only in its divers States, but in the 
neighborhood of the same city. Four basins are stretched along 
very unequal altitude and surround the Mexican capital. The first 
comprises the valley of Toluca, capital of the State of Mexico, at 
an elevation of 2,600 metres above the Gulf of Mexico ; the second, 
the valley of Tenochtitlan (Mexico) at 2,274 metres ; the third, the 
valley of Actopan, at 1,966 metres, and the fourth the valley Tistla, 
at 981 metres above the Gulf of Mexico. These four basins differ 
as much by their climate and vegetable productions, as by their 
different altitudes above the Gulf. The fourth, the least elevated, is 
proper to the culture of the sugar-cane ; the third, to the cultivation 
of cotton ; the second, to the cultivation of grain ; and the first, 
that of Toluca, is distinguished by its maguey plantations. The 
maguey plant constituted the real vineyards of the Aztecs ; it even 
to-day furnishes a beverage called ptilque, much in use among the 
Mexican population of the interior. When railways will spread out 
from the city of Mexico as they do from our great American cities, 
a few hours only will be necessary to unfold to the eye of the tra- 
veler the most varied cultivations and climes. 

Supposing the railroad from Vera Cruz, via Mexico, to Aca- 
pulco completed : the traveller — going from Mexico to Acapulco — 
from a vegetation like that found in the vicinity of Paris would, in 
one or two hours' time be amidst the plants natural to Cuba and 
San Domingo, for it is only 18 leagues, or 47 miles from the city of 
Mexico to Cuemavaca, w^iere the sugar-cane grows remarkably well. 
Independently of the phenomena that determine, here and there, the 
exceptionable most favored expositions to the sun's rays, the 
extreme variety of the vegetable reign displayed to the eye of 
the traveller is accrued by the peculiar elasticity that seems to 
characterize in Mexico the nature or the temperament of the plants, 
even of those who are supposed to be extremely delicate, like the 
sugar-cane. For instance, the cultivation of the latter, which 
begins near the sea-shore, continues, in all its fruitfulness, to a 
height of 3,000 feet, and even produces well in the valleys that are 
sheltered from the north, at an altitude of 5,000 feet, and even do 



18 

well at a still higher altitude. Sugar-cane plantations are found in 
the vicinity of the city of Valladolid, or Morella, the capital of the 
State of Michoacan, at an elevation of 6,000 feet. Very prosperous 
sugar-cane plantations are also found in the State of San Luis 
Potosi, in the valley of Rio Verde, at an altitude of 6,000 feet. But 
the latter valley is deep and narrow, the sides of the mountains, 
standing as straight as a stone wall, reflects the sun's rays to such 
a point of heat that makes it unbearable. It is proved by the will 
of Hernando Cortez, the conqueror of Mexico, that in his day sugar- 
cane grew in the valley of Mexico. The proper extension to be given 
to the cultivation of the cane itself would insure a great future to 
Mexico. 

There is, in all probability, no country to be found on the face 
of the earth v^hose configuration is so particularly advantageous as 
Mexico. In Europe, the high land consists in plains situated at an 
altitude of 2,600 to 2,800 feet above the sea. The plateau of Cas- 
tille, in Spain, is situated at an altitude of 2,300 feet. In France, 
the plateau forming the central departments from which rises the 
Mont-d'Or, the Puy-de-D6me and the Cantal, has about the same 
altitude as that of Castille. The plateau of Bavaria has an eleva- 
tion of 1,650 feet. All of the plateaus above mentioned are far from 
possessing the advantages of the Mexican plateau, whose base is 
bathed by the waters of two great oceans; and it is not by descend- 
ing from the European plateau to the sea-shore that one will meet 
this admirable succession of all the climates and all the riches of 
the vegetable reign. 

In South America, the vast territory formerly composing the 
Republic of Columbia, now divided into three Republics, whose 
coast presents the shape of a large semi-circle, united to the 
Isthmus of Panama, offers like Mexico the character of a territory 
situated in the equinoctial regions descending by heavy grades to 
the sea-shores of the two oceans ; but here the elevation of the 
plains is much greater than it is on the largest portion of the 
Mexican plateau, the altitudes are too great. The city of Santa- 
F6-de.-Bogota, the capital of the Republic of Columbia, is situated 
on a plateau at an elevation of 8,662 feet ; Caxamarca, the ancient 
residence of the Incas, which became celebrated at the time of 
Fernando Pizarro's conquest of the country on account of the place 
of keeping of the fabulous treasures of the Inca Atahualpa and the 



19 

murder of that unfortunate prince, is situated at an elevation of 
9,438 feet. The great plains of Antisana are still more elevated, 
reaching an altitude of 13,530 feet, an altitude of 1,284 feet above 
the peak of the island of Teneriffe. Even when an altitude like 
that of the city of Santa-Fe-de-Bogota is reached, it becomes a 
disadvantage, as it determines a low temperature that paralyzes the 
power of vegetation, and prevents the establishment of a well pro- 
ducing agriculture, and in so doing becomes an impediment to the 
ascending march of public wealth and the progress of civilization. 

On the Mexican plateau, it can be observed that after reaching 
the altitude of 8,250 or 8,500 feet, the sun ceases to give during 
the summer a sufficient quantity of heat to bring to maturity many 
of the most desirable products to the civilized man. On the pla- 
teau of Bogota, or on that of Anahuac (Mexico), the winter is 
milder than in Europe, or in the so-called temperate climes of the 
United States, as that portion of the country between Boston or 
Chicago to New Orleans ; on the other hand, the sun rays, during 
the summer, have not sufficient power to furnish the heat required, 
at a certain moment, to ripen many of the grains and fruits 
necessary to the subsistence and the arts of the civilized man. 

Between the Mexican plateau and the elevated regions of 
South America, another feature is found altogether to the advant- 
age of the former. The plains of South America are longitudinal 
valleys, shut up between the two branches of the Cordillera, while 
in Mexico it is the largest portion of the mountain chain that forms 
the plateau. From what has just been said, it is plainly shown 
that in width, — that is perpendicularly to the equator, — the 
plains of South America are not of great extent. They are also 
of limited extent in length ; the country is torn across by ravines 
or crevices whose depth reaches 4,620 feet which opposes to the 
communications obstacles difficult to overcome. South America, in 
lieu of a plateau like that of Mexico, presents a checker-board of small 
plateaus, separated by immense precipices, when they are not 
separated by the perpendicular walls of mountains. According to 
Baron de Humboldt, the little plateaus of South America have a 
mean area of 40 squares leagues or 170,200 acres ; they are isolated 
islands amidst an aerial ocean. The deep cuts that furrow the 
continent in the elevated regions of South America impedes the 
transportation of merchandise and prevents all traveling except 



20 

on horseback, on foot, or on the back of Indians; ,to this day, 
this labor, proper to beast of burden, is for them a profession. In 
Mexico, on the contrary, and aUhough there are but few roads, 
except natural roads, wagons can easily roll upon an almost 
natural level road, that is a road whose easy grade is not felt by the 
wagoner, from the city of Mexico to the city of Santa Fe, in New 
Mexico, now a territory of the United States, for a distance by the 
traveled natural road of 631 Mexican leagues, or 1,640^ miles. 

Another great superiority of Mexico over a portion of the 
other equinoctial regions of South America, is in the small number 
of its volcanoes and the absence of those violent earthquakes that 
from time to time destroy and devastate a portion of the country. 
In the whole of Mexico, one hundred years ago, only four volcanoes 
were known to be on fire : the peak of Orizaba, who has not had any 
eruption of any note for 300 years ; the Popocatapetl, which con- 
stantly ejects smoke in small quantity (it seems that at the time of 
the conquest he emitted much more); the mountain of Tustla and 
the volcano of Colima, that never had caused any damage to the 
surrounding country. In September, 1759, an extraordinary phe- 
nomenon without any precedent in natural history took place. A 
volcano spontaneously arose in the valley of Jorullo, destroying 
all vestige of civilization for several miles of country, and throwing 
out ashes in such a quantity as to obscure the sunlight. Some of 
the ashes fell in the city of Queretaro, a distance of forty leagues. 
In our days it is smoking. Although Mexico is subject to earth- 
quakes, no shocks have ever been felt in that city like those who 
destroyed the cities of Guatemala, Lima, Carracas, and, of late, 
Iquique and many others. 

What Mexico lacks is navigable streams, most of its rivers 
being torrents, dry during a large portion of the year. The Rio 
Bravo del Norte, which now forms a part of the boundary line 
between the United States, is only navigable for small boats to 
Roma. The Guazacoalco is a navigable stream, at the mouth of 
which a good port could be made, but it is not accessible to the 
populous portions of Mexico. The Santiago (St. James), or Tolo- 
lotlan, which empties into the Pacific Ocean near the port of San 
Bias, passes through a rich country, and its navigability could be 
improved. Fortunately for Mexico, during the raining season, which 
lasts four months of our summer, the Mexican soil is abundantly 



21 

watered every afternoon, and all the natural reservoirs that supply 
the springs are filled up, as well as all the basins and tanks 
necessary to the cultivation of the soil where no streams are found. 
This same phenomenon occurs in calcareous countries. The cause 
is to be attributed to the constitution of the soil, the earth being 
so cracked, the rain water, absorbed by the soil, percolates through 
innumerable fissures and forms small streams that gush out on the 
flanks of the inclined plain leading to the sea. 

Mexico must be considered a dry country, often barren. Some 
small lakes are scattered about the country. The largest is that of 
Chapala, containing an area of 75,695 acres. This lake is situated 
in a thickly settled portion of Mexico, near the city of Guadalajara. 
The lakes that surround the city of Mexico are only large lagoons, 
they are the lake of Texuco, Xochimilco Chalco, San Cristobal and 
Zumpango. They together form an area of 11,100 acres. Nine 
more lakes are found north of the city of Zacatecas, and five in the 
neighborhood of Chihuahua. Unfortunately, the water of these 
lagoons is so impregnated with carbonate of soda, that works have 
been established for the extraction of this salt, but this manufac- 
turing advantage is counterbalanced by great inconvenience, as 
these waters cannot be used for irrigating or household purposes. 

The same salt, of which we have spoken of in the above 
paragraph, impregnates a part of the Mexican soil. In some places 
the salt rises to the surface, attracted by the dryness of the atmos- 
phere. It appears in efflorescence that can be seen with the naked 
eye, on account of its white color. This salt is found also in the 
valley of Mexico, on the shores of lakes Texuco, Zumpango and 
San Cristobal, as well as in a portion of the plains that surround 
the city of Puebla and many other portions of Mexico. The presence 
of this salt is certainly a great obstacle to agriculture, and even to 
all sorts of vegetation, and causes the country to have a lonesome 
and forlorn look. 

It is true that the presence of this salt condems at present a 
part of the Mexican territory to a want of vegetation that is un- 
pleasant to the eye, but there is still plenty of excellent lands to 
exercise the industry of the farmer and to produce rich and varied 
crops that would be of great profit to the interior laborer and the 
commerce of exportation. 



22 



PLANTS. 



Mr. De Candolle, a distinguished botanist, estimates that there 
is in America more than 100,000 vegetable plants whose species or 
varieties have not yet been classified. 

Clavigero (book VII, p. 251) says that Europe is indebted to the 
Mexican doctors for the discovery of tobacco, American balsam, gum 
copal, the Hquidambar, sarsaparilla, gum tacamaque, and many 
other plants employed in modern medicine. 

Tobacco, called by the Mexican pycietl, was used by the 
Aztecs at the time of the conquest, to snuff and to smoke. American 
balsam is taken from a tree called huitziloxitl (Balsamo-dondron). 
This tree is common in the torrid zone. The Mexican kings had 
it transplanted in the celebrated garden of Huaxtepec, from 
whence it was propagated in the mountains. It is of moderate 
growth ; its leaves resemble those of the almond tree, but are a lit- 
tle larger ; its wood is reddish and odorous ; its bark of an ash 
color ; its flower white. Gum copal is taken from a tree called 
copaliquahuitl (copalli is an Indian word given to all gum trees). 

The liquidamar of the Spaniards is the xochiocotzotl of the 
Mexicans. 

Sarsaparilla is the 7necapatli of the Mexicans. 

The tacamaca is a gum taken from tocomacihayac tree, 
which also abounds in the tierra caliente or torrid zone. 

The hule of the Spaniards is the elastic resin taken from the 
olquakmlt ; it is a large tree also found in the torrid zone. In the 
State of Michoacan there is a tree of the same species, but which 
differ from the former by its leaves. 

Gum lacque {goma laca of the Spaniards) is taken from a tree 
called by the Mexicans tzinacancuitlaquahiutL 

Besides these, many other medicinal plants and herbs, too 
numerous to be mentioned in this brief sketch are to be found in 
Mexico. There is certainly a wide field for botanists and chemists 
to look after and work these valuable gums and medicinal plants, 
and export them to other countries. 

Before concluding we will add the following plants among the 
most useful: 

Tominogua, a sure cure for fever. Canaguat (root). 

Parroqui (herb). Chupi (herb). 



23 

Barba de chebato (buck beard), Guaguat (a plant). 

Ubalamas (a fruit). Guaco (Jalapa root). 

FLOWERS. 

It would take a volume to enumerate all the beautiful flowers 
of Mexico ; besides dl those known to Americans are some of ex- 
treme beauty, of vivid colors and most delicious perfumes. Among 
them I will only mention a few, giving their names in the Spanish 
of the country, viz. : 

Flor del Corazon. (It grows on a large-size tree.) 

Flor de la Mano. 

Flor de Tigre. 

The Coatzontecoxochitl. 

Flor de Cabeza de Ribora. 

Flor de Zempoaxochitl (flower. of a beautiful gold color). 

The Azucena. (Eng. White Lilly:) (Lat. Lihim Candidum.) 

La Camelia. 

El Tulipan. (Eng. Tulip) 

El Clavel. (Eng. Pork) (Lat. Dianthus Caryophillus.) 

The Flor del Cuerro. 

El Floripondio. 

The dahlia, one of the finest flowers in the world, on account 
of its great varieties and beautiful colors (although it has no per- 
fume), is aborigeneous, but has been improved in Europe with 
great success, and the most varied sizes and colors produced. 

Roses of all varieties and of the very finest colors and most 
delicious perfumes. 

AGRICULTURE. 

The cultivation of corn is and has been, without any doubt, of 
the greatest importance to Mexico, as this grain constitutes the 
principal nourishment of the poorer classes; it forms really the basis 
of Mexican agriculture. 

Some people believe that there are several classes of corn, 
when really there is but a variety of the grain. There is a quality 
of com called in the country Maiz pinto, whose grain is blue ; Mai2 
czanuro, on account of the whiteness of its grain, is employed to 



24 

make certain pastes. Maiz de riego, is a corn raised by irrigation ; 
when the crop is good, it generally yields 500 to i ; it is very abun- 
dant and is generally planted in most of the plantations. Maiz 
tremis is what in the United States is called early corn, and will 
mature in three months ; is sown or planted in dry lands, but must 
be planted early. Although corn does well in every State of the 
Mexican Republic, a warm climate is better adapted to its cul- 
tivation. 

Wheat is cultivated with more or less success in most of the 
Mexican States. The Mexican wheat is very nutritive. In 1856, it 
was estimated that about 11,000,000 of bushels were raised in the 
Republic, but the natives in general prefer corn to wheat. But 
M. de Humboldt, whose name has to be cited often when speaking 
of Mexico, said that corn has the great disadvantage of containing 
less nutrition than wheat cultivated on the same space of ground. 

Barley is put to divers use, and it was reported that, in 1856, 
about 8,000,000 bushels were raised in the Republic. 

The Maguey or Agave ai7iericana is one of the peculiar 
plants of Mexico, it hardly needs any cultivation. It is generally 
planted from sprouts in gravelly or dry soil ; a plantation of 20 to 
25,000 magueys will produce a handsome income. What is called 
B. fanega de seiJibradura, about ten of our acres, will admit 1,300 
plants ; after five or eight years, it will produce the aguauiiel or 
sap, out of which is fermented the pulque, the principal beverage 
of the Mexican population in the interior of Mexico ; each plant, for 
the period of from four to six months, will yield on an average nine 
quarts of the juice per day ; each plant will give a return to its 
owner, in general, from 20 to 30 dollars. It is estimated that the 
cost of planting each plant is 3>^ cents, or, in the term of the 
country, a cuartilla. We will speak more extensively of this plant 
hereafter. 

The culture of sugar-cane constitute also one of the principal 
branches of Mexican agriculture, which could be greatly propagated, 
for no country in the world is better adapted to its production. In 
some of the Mexican States it will yield twenty per cent, more than 
in the State of Louisiana. It does Well in all of the Mexican States, 
but yield large crops in the States of Morelos, Vera Cruz, Tamauli- 
pas and southern Nuevo Leon. 

Cotton is also raised in Mexico, but not in sufficient quantity 



25 

for the wants of its inhabitants, although some States are particu- 
larly well adapted to its growth. 

The coffee-tree was first brought to Mexico from the island of 
Cuba about the beginning of this century, and was first cultivated 
with success in the neighborhood of Cordova, in the State of 
Vera Cruz ; afterwards it was propagated in other Mexican States. 
The coffee produced in Cordova and Orizaba is equal, if not 
superior to that raised in Cuba ; and that raised in the State of 
Colima is said to be superior even to Moca. It is, in after years, 
destined to be one of the main exports of Mexico. Its culture is 
fast improving ; for a few years ago only about $100,000 worth of 
coffee was exported, while in the fiscal year, ending June, 1878, 
$1,275,058.11 was exported from Mexican ports to foreign countries. 

Tobacco is also produced in several of the Mexican States, and 
will be eventually one of its principal exports. The best tobacco 
is produced in the State of Tabasco. It is certainly equal to the 
Havana tobacco. Tobacco is also grown in Orizaba, Cordova, and 
the District of Tepic, in the State of Jalisco, on the Pacific. 

Anil, or aniseed, is cultivated in the State of Chiapas, and on 
the western coast of Mexico — Sinaloa, Sonora, and other States. 

The cochz7iilla, or cochineal, a very useful insect on account of 
the beautiful red color it produces, is proper to Mexico, and 
is raised on a certain variety of the nopal {cacti) that are 
cultivated in the Republic. The cochineal is a very small insect; 
it is bred more largely in the State of Oajaca than any 
other Mexican State, and does remarkably well in that State. Gen- 
erally three crops are gathered yearly ; as already said, it produces a 
red substance of extraordinary beauty ; on this account cochineal, 
after gold and silver, was considered one of the principal exports of 
Mexico. In 1856, 602,832 pounds of cochineal, valued at $1,214,388 
were exported from the Republic. 

In 1856 it was estimated that the agricultural products of the 
Republic amounted to $200,000,000. 

ZOOLOGY. 

We will only mention the animals that existed in the country 
at the time of the conquest, such as mountain cats, wolves, squirrels, 
rabbits, wild hogs called javalin, various species of monkeys. 



26 

The coyote, called by the Mexicans el coyotl, an animal resembling 
the dog in form and size and the wolf in ferocity. The camomiotte, 
a specie of marten. The coyopalin, an animal the size of a rat, but 
with a very large tail. A large variety of snakes ; among the most 
venomous are the rattlesnakes, the coral. The centoatl is a snake 
about five feet long and eight inches in diameter, it is easily distin- 
guished from all others as its skin shines in the darkness. The 
saltillo (darting snake) is a large reptile, with an ash-color stripe 
running along his spine and a brown stripe under his belly ; he is 
venomous and darts upon its prey from trees. 

Among the reptiles worthy of notice is the alcatelepon, a sort 
of lizzard fifteen inches in length, with a rugged gray skin covered 
with pimples ; it has an extremely ferocious look, and its bites are 
very painful. The iguana, a kind of lizzard native of America 
{Lacerta iguana, bot.), sometimes three feet in length. Among 
the spiders are the tarantula, the ham and casapulga, whose bites 
are exceedingly dangerous ; the scolopundo, known as centipede, 
is an insect of the order Aptera, which is sometimes found 
eighteen inches in length. The rinagrillo, a dangerous insect ; 
and many scorpions whose bites are said to cause death. 

There is in Mexico six species of bees, one of which has no 
sting and is peculiar to the States of Yucatan and Chiapas. The 
honey they produce is said to be more delicious than that of all others. 

A great variety of butterflies of the most beautiful colors. 
Among the worms, the teocuiliJi or shining worm, which is said to 
possess the qualities of the cantharides. The temahuani is covered 
with yellow thorns, which are very venomous. A great variety of 
ants. Among them, the kind called arrzeras (carrying ants) does 
a great deal of harm in the fields. There is a small black ant and 
a large red one whose stings are very painful. There are two 
kinds of ticks {Acarus ricinus) ; one, known as the pinonillo, is 
of a black color, very small and very numerous ; also an insect 
called cochii7iilla, which resemble the bed-bug in size and appear- 
ance ; both of the latter are dangerous. 

There are in Mexico, besides the domestic fowls, over two 
hundred species of birds, among them several varieties of the 
eagles, hawks, sparrow-hawks, the royal eagle, the raven and all 
kind of buzzards. 



27 



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28 
POLITICAL DIVISION. 

The Republic of Mexico is divided into 27 States, one Territory 
and one Federal District. The States, for their interior govern- 
ment, are divided into 48 departments, 170 districts, 48 cantons, 
no counties, 1,411 municipalities, 146 cities, 378 towns, 4,886 
villages, 872 hamlets, 5,869 haciendas, 14,705 ranches and 6 
missions. 

REVENUES. 

Average revenue of the Mexican Republic, $20,477,788. 

The revenue of the different States, is in the following order : 
1st, Guanajuato, $811,430; 2d, Puebla, $636,560; 3d, Oaxaca, 
$569,489; 4th, Jalisco, $540,680; 5th, Mexico, $462,103 ; 6th, Vera 
Cruz Llave, $391,688; 7th, Michoacan de Ocampo, $390,230; 8th, 
Zacatecas, $360,960 ; 9th, San Luis Potosi, $329,238 ; loth, Hidalgo, 
$311,500; nth, Yucatan, $232,000; 12th, Sinaloa, $184,976 ; 13th, 
Morelos, $180,000; 14th, Queretaro, $165,450; 15th, Durango, 
$159,717; i6th, Sonora, $136,565 ; 17th, Chiapas, $120,202; i8th. 
Chihuahua, $117,673 ; 19th, Tamaulipas, $114,300; 20th, Guerrero, 
$108,530; 2ist, Aguas Calientes, $95,186 ; 22d, Coahuila, $92,483 ; 
23d, Tlaxcala, $85,890; 24th, Nuevo Leon, $76,000; 25th, Colima, 
$75,418 ; 26th, Campeche, $66,893; 27h, Tabasco, $62,400. 



STATE OF AGUAS CALIENTES. 

This State is bounded on the west by the State of Zacatecas, 
on the north by that of San Luis Potosi, on the east and south by 
that of Jalisco ; its area contains 1,771,479 acres, or 377 square 
miles. 

This State contains one city, one town, three villages, three 
mining towns {minerales), 57 haciendas or estates, and 288 ranches 
or farms. 

Population in 1856, 85,859 inhabitants. 

Population in 1881, 140,000 inhabitants. 



29 

Capital, the city of Aguas Calientes (Hot Springs), derives its 
name from a spring of thermal water that rises in its vicinity. The 
city possesses 1 3 churches, i hospital, i penitentiary for women. 
The principal public buildings are the City Hall, the market and the 
jail ; it has also fine public walks. 

The population of the city is set down at 35,000 inhabitants. 

Products, — Corn, beans, wheat, pepper, lentils, tobacco, pota- 
toes ; all fruits and vegetables of warm and cold climates ; pulque, 
also a liquor made out of the cactus figues, called coloche, wines, 
alcohol, cheese, etc. 



STATE OF CAMPECHE. 

BOUNDARIES, AREA, POPULALION. 

This State is bounded on the north by the Gulf of Yucatan, on 
the east by the State of Yucatan, on the south by the State of Ta- 
basco and the Republic of Guatemala, and on the west by the State 
of Tabasco. 

Its area contains 3,841 square leagues. Its present population 
is 66,724 inhabitants. 

Mountains. — In this State the Cordillera is reduced to the size 
of high hills. 

Rivers. — The principals are those of Champoton and Jaraliza. 

Lakes. — Lake Terminos is worthy of notice. 

Ports. — The principal are those of Campeche, an old Spanish 
town, and that of El Carmen has a considerable foreign commerce. 

Natural Productions. — Many dye-woods, tobacco of superior 
quality, sugar-cane, hennequien, and valuable palmettoes. 

Political Divisions. — This State is divided in five districts, 
viz. : Campeche, Los Chenos, Hecelchacan, El Carmen, Champoton. 

Principal Cities and Towns. — The city of Campeche, an old 
fortified Spanish town, has a population of 1 5,000 inhabitants ; 
is situated in a fertile valley surrounded by the Gulf ; it has a fine 
theatre, several institutions. For many years it was the only port 
of Yucatan, and was sacked repeatedly by filibusters. The land is 



30 

gradually invading the bay, so much so, that only boats of light 
drafts can navigate into the port. 

Value of real estate $700,000. Campeche was created a 
State in the year 1856. ^^ 



STATE OF COAHUILA. 

This portion of Mexico was inhabited by the following barbar- 
ous tribes of Indians, viz. : the Guachichiles,Tobosos, Cotzales, Pi- 
huiques, Irritilas, Laguneros and others. Under the Spanish Gov- 
ernment it was known as the Province of " New Estramadura." Its 
boundary line then extended to the Medina River, Texas. 

The independence of Mexico being achieved, it was united with 
Texas and formed a part of the State of Coahuila and Texas. In 
1837 it was erected into a department, and in 1847 into a State with 
its present territory, Texas having been lost to Mexico by military 
occupation. In 1857 it was united to Nueva Leon by Governor 
Vidauri, but the law of the i8th of November, 1868, restored defin- 
itely that territory to its sovereignty. 

It contains an area of 9,500 square leagues or 42,066,000 acres ; 
population, 125,400 inhabitants. The State contains the following 
cities and towns, viz. : 

First. — District of the Centre, 46,583 inhabitants ; municipality 
of Saltillo, 27,500 inhabitants. The city of Saltillo, founded in 1586 
with the title of town (villa), and created a city on the 5th of Novem- 
ber, 1827, with the name of Leona Vicario, in honor of a heroine of 
the Mexican revolution, which name did not prevail, has a beautiful 
church, ornamented with fine sculptures, also six other churches, 
one hospital, an amphitheatre dedicated to bull-fighting, a public 
garden, a college, a government palace on the principal square, 
known as the Plaza de Zaragoza, and an alameda with beautiful 
shade trees. 

The etymology of the word Saltillo is a corruption of a " Chichi- 
mec " word which signifies " high lands with much water," and was 
given to it for its being situated on the declivity of a hill that gives 
birth to abundant springs of water. Population, 18,000. The 



31 

towns of Arteaga, Patos, San Pedro, Ramos Arispe, are in the 
same district. 

Second. — District of Parras: 18,330 inhabitants. The City of 
Parras de la Fuente, had the name of Fuente added to it in honor of 
the Mexican ambassador of that name to France who heroically pro- 
tested against the French intervention. The place was founded by 
the Jesuit father, Juan Augustin Espinosa, and Captain Antonio 
Martin Zapata, with families of the Tlaxcaltec nation brought from 
Saltillo in 1598. It was created a city in January,. 1868. It has a 
good City Hall, six churches and eight thousand inhabitants. The 
town of San Pedro is in the same district. 

Third. — District of Nazas : 18,842 inhabitants. Town of 
Nazas formerly known as the Alamo de Parras. 

Villages of Saucillo, Santa Margarita Soledad. 

Town of Laguna de Matamoros, created September 8th, 1864. 

Fourth. — District of Monclova : 31,749 inhabitants. The City of 
Monclova founded by Captain Antonio Balcarcel Sotomayor y Riva- 
deneyra on the 23d of November, A. D. 1784, under the name of 
" Our Lady of Guadaloupe of New Estramadura." Founded 
again by Don Jose Escandon in 1748. It was the capital of the 
State of Coahuila and Texas for some years. It has two churches 
and a population of 3,500 inhabitants. 

Villages of Mota, Estancia, San Francisco Aguayo, San Miguel 
Aguayo. The town of San Buenaventura, was founded by Fernando 
del Bosque, first alcalde of New Estramadura, on the 14th of May, 
1678. Population, 3,500 souls. 

Village of Coronel Fuentes, Juares, and the town of Abasolo, 
founded 14th of May, 1675, and named San Vicente del Alto. 

Town of Rodriguez, formerly hacienda of San Vicente el Bajo. 

Town of Cuatro Cienegas, 4,000 inhabitants. 

Town of Sacramento, formerly a fort or presidio, founded in 1 736. 

Town of Musquiz, formerly towm of Santa Rosa, founded in 
1698. In 1789 the headquarters of the captain-general command- 
ing the eastern internal provinces of New Spain, were established 
in this town. 

Town of San Juan de Sabinas, founded as a mission on the 
22d day of June, 1699, by Father Juan Martin Trevinio, with the 
name of San Juan Bautista y valle de Santo Domingo, and finally 
created into a town in i 86q. 



32 

Candela, 3,867 inhabitants, has valuable copper mines in its 
neighborhood. It was founded in 1689. 

Town of Valiadares, founded under the name of Santiago de 
Valladares in 1790. 

Town of Progreso, founded in i860. 

Fifth. — District of Rio Grande — City of Zaragoza, founded on 
the 1st of February, 1753, by Pedro de Rabago y Teran, under the 
name of San Fernando de Austria. It was then called Valley of 
Santa Rosa, then San Fernando de Rosa, and last, in 1868, it was 
created a city with the name of Zaragoza — population, 2,000 inhabi- 
tants. Towns of Allende, Nava, Piedras Negras, 2,738 inhabi- 
tants. Towns of Guerrero, formerly Presidio de San Juan Bau- 
tista de Rio Grande, founded in the seventeenth century, and 
removed to its actual position in 1704. 

Towns of Rosales, Fuente, Morelos. 

Town of Gigedo, founded in 1725 with the title of Santo Nom- 
bre de Jesus de Peyotes, by Fray Francisco Penasco ; repeopled in 
1737, under the name of San Pedro Gigedo. It is also known under 
the name of the town of Luga. 

Town of Tomines : 864 inhabitants. 

This State contains 4 cities, 27 towns, 8 villages, 12 hamlets, 
88 haciendas and 320 ranches. 

Besides the Spanish language the Indians speak the Lippan and 
the Apache dialect called the llanero. 

Productio7is. — Gold, silver, copper, lead, salt, nitre, onix 
alabaster, cotton, sarsaparilla, wines made out of the grapes, that 
have received a gold medal at the Philadelphia Centennial ; mezcal 
de la popa, a liquor made out of the maguey plant, of the very 
best quality ; all small grains, good timber, all fruits of temperate 
climes, and wool and cotton manufactures. 

The following factories are at present in good working order, 
viz. : " La Hibernia," " La Esmeralda," " La Aurora," " La Liber- 
tad," " El Labrador," and " Palomas," all in the Central District in 
the vicinity of Saltillo. In the District of Parras " La Estrella," and 
in the District of Monclova " La Abundancia," all worked by water- 
power. There is in this State fifty flour and corn-mills and several 
saw-mills. 

Public instruction. — In 1876, this State expended $26,322 for 
115 public schools, attended by 4,359 scholars of both sexes. 



33 

The present Governor of this State, Don Evaristo Madero, 
one of its wealthiest real estate owners and manufacturers, is a man 
of large views and of great spirit of enterprise. His liberality is 
equal to his success. He accepted the position contrary to his 
wishes, and abandoned his salary' for the benefit of the poor of 
the State. 

MINING IN COAHUILA. 

Formerly in the divers mineral districts of this State, 
over sixty mines were worked, but after the declaration of inde- 
pendence from Spain only four in the District of Viezca were 
worked; they were the mines of Sierra de Ramirez, Sierra de 
Timulco, Canon de Ribera, and Sierra de Hornos. Actually 
various mines are worked in the valley of Santa Rosa. 

Besides silver, iron is found in this State near Monclova ; and 
in Reis and Guadaloupe, copper and lead are found in abundance. 
Magnetic iron abounds in Viezca and in the vicinity of Monclova, 
the former capital of the province. Nitre is found in San Bias, in 
the jurisdiction of San Buenaventura. Sulphur and copperas is 
found in the hills of Gigedo or Peyotes. 

The principal causes of the abandonment of the mines in this 
State were the same ones which affected all northern Mexico : the 
insecurity occasioned by Indian incursions, and the want of capital. 

The mining district of Sierra Mojada is mostly situated in this 
State. 

The mines of Matehuapile, situated in the mountain and near the 
present farm of the same name, on the lands of the estate of 
Salado, — are rich silver mines which produced an immense donan^a 
from 1720 to 1735, prior to the discovery of the mines of the Cerro 
de Catorce mountain, of which this chain is a sort of foot hill. Its 
owner purchased them from the crown with the title of Count of 
Matehuapile, and afterwards that of Marquis de las Guadianas. 
Near the present ranche of Matehuapile existed a town that had as 
much as five thousand people engaged in mining, who were all 
massacred by the Indians in the year 1735. At a short distance 
from these mines is an elevation of almost pure iron. 



34 
THE STATE OF CHIAPAS. 

SITUATION, BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 

This State is situated between the 15^45' and the 17° 55' north 
latitude, and the 3^ 54' 50" and the 6° 45' 50" east longitude from 
the City of Mexico. Is is bounded on the north and the east by the 
State of Yucatan, on the south by the Pacific Ocean and the Repub- 
lic of Guatemala, on the west by the States of Tabasco and Oaxaca. 
It has an area of 2,598 square leagues. 

Topographical aspect and climate. — The Sierra Madre 
mountain, in three chains almost parallel, cross this State from 
east to west, which, on the south, present considerable depression. 
Its general climate is good. 

Chiapas was created a State on the 12th November, 1824. 

Rivers. — Among those worthy of note, are to be found the 
Chiapas, that takes its rise in the mountains of Cuchumatanes, in 
Guatemala ; the Odumacima ; the Julija, which is navigable for a 
short distance ; the Chapa ; the Blanquillo, that passes near Cha- 
pultenango and empties in the Gulf. 

Lakes. — The lake of Tepancuapan, situated in the southern 
district of the State, is about 17 miles long and three miles wide. 
Also, the small lake of Islotes. 

Natural productions. — The mango, the caomito, the bixa 
ocellana. Brazil-wood, Campeche wood, zopote mamey {achras 
zopota), pasiflora granadilla or passion-flower, the zenjula tobacco, 
vanilla, pepper, ginger, coffee, tea, India-rubber tree, wild vine, and 
the orejuela. Also a great variety of medicinal herbs : the viper 
herb or escorzonera luciniada, julep root, the copalchy, and many 
others. 

This State is divided into 7 districts, 1 5 counties, and possesses 
4 cities, 7 towns, and 96 villages. 

Capital of the State. — San Cristobal contained in 1856, a popu- 
lation of 7,649 inhabitants. It has a few good public buildings, and 
is situated 287 leagues east-southeast from the City of Mexico. 
Population of the State, 193,406. 



35 



THE STATE OF CHIHUAHUA. 

SITUATION, BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 

The State of Chihuahua is situated between the 25*' 50' an^ 
31*^ 47' north latitude, and the 4° 10' and 9° 6' west longitude 
from the City of Mexico. It is bounded on the north by the 
United States, on the east by Coahuila, on the south by Durango, 
and on the west by Sonora and Sinaloa. Its greatest length from 
north to south is 159 leagues, and its greatest width 132 leagues ; 
it contains 12,557 square leagues. 

Chihuahua was created a State in 1824. 

Topographical aspect attd climate. — This State is broken and 
mountainous, principally in its western portion, where several chains 
of mountains run parallel to the main chain or Sierra Madre, and 
form that district called Tarahumara. These chains of moun- 
tains are divided by deep ravines, where streams take their rise, 
among them the Yaqui, Mayo and Fuerte rivers, which empty into 
the Gulf of California. In this mountainous region, plenty of good 
land is found for agricultural purposes, and rich forests. 

In the northern part of the State are found the sand hills 
known as the Medanos de Zomalayucan ; they occupy sixty miles of 
country. The climate varies according to the altitude ; in the vast 
plains, it is considered cold by the Mexicans, but would be con- 
sidered pleasant by northern people ; it is generally agreeable and 
very healthy. 

Lagoons. — In this State are to be found the following : that of 
Guzman, Santa Maria, Patos, Castillo and Encinillias, all of little 
importance. 

Mountains. — The Sierra Madre mountain, which runs over 
the western portion of the State, where it is known as the Tara- 
humara ; the Sierra de en Medio, the Sierra de Carcay, the Sierra 
de la Escondida, the Sierra del Nido, and the Sierra de la Cam- 
pana (or bell mountain). 

Rivers, — The Bravo or Rio Grande ; the Concho rises in the 
Sierra Madre, and, after a course of 130 leagues, empty into the 
Rio Grande at the old fort and town of Presidio del Norte. The 
Santa Maria, that has a course of 60 leagues ; also those of El Car- 



36 

inen, Chihuahua, the Florido, the Casas Grande, which, after a 
course of over 60 leagues, empties in the Lagoon of Guzman. 

Vegetable productions. — Among the forest trees are found the 
following, viz.: pine, cypress, oak, beech-tree, silver fir-tree, acacia, 
alder-tree, logwood, ash. Brazil-wood, lignum-vitae, and many- 
others. 

All the fruits of temperate climes can be produced in this 
State. Grapes do remarkably well, between the mountains and 
the Rio Grande. 

Among the medicinal plants are the following : sarsaparilla, 
saffron, aniseed, wild marjoram, and others. 

Agriculture. — The following cereals are cultivated in the State 
of Chihuahua : corn, wheat, rye, pepper, peas, beans, lentils. Cot- 
ton grows very well in the southern part of this State. The fibre is 
short, but it is very white. In 1856 the cotton crop amounted to 
312,000 lbs. All kinds of stock thrive well, and are raised with 
little or no expense. 

Among the wild animals are the Mexican tigers, wolves, pan- 
thers, deers, bears, wild-hogs, coyotes, and the celebrated Chihua- 
hua dog, and others. Among the birds the pheasant and the eagle. 

The State of Chihuahua has always been considered one of the 
richest in minerals of the Republic. \^See our catalogue of jnines.'] 

Industry. — The principals are mining and agriculture. There 
are a few cotton factories, and the inhabitants manufacture Mexican 
blankets and hats, but not in sufficient quantities to supply the 
home consumption. 

Population. — This State has been for years back desolated by 
the various tribes of Apaches known as Chrichahuis, Tontos, Mim- 
brenos, Gilinos, Farones, Goyames, Mescalesos, Llaneros, Lipanes 
and Navajoes, and the Comanches who roamed about the Bolsom 
of Mapimi and the Laguna de Jaco, where rich gold placers are 
said to exist. The Tarahumaras occupy the western portion of the 
State. They are nearly civiUzed, and number presently over 30,000 
souls. In 1856, the population of Chihuahua was set down at 
147,000 inhabitants. 

Cities and towns. — The City of Chihuahua, capital of the 
State and District of the same name, is situated at the foot of 
the Sierra Madre mountains, in a large plain, in latitude 28^ 
35' 10" north, and longitude 6° 17' o" west, from the City 



37 

of Mexico, with the streets running at right angles. It has 
seven churches, a city hall, one hospital, and a jail. Among 
the edifices of note are the parish church, the Sanctuary of 
Guadaloupe, the church of San Felipe, the old college of the 
Jesuits, — behind which the leaders of the revolution of 1810, Don 
Miguel Hidalgo, curate of Dolores, and Capt. Allende, were decapi- 
tated — the Congressional palace, the tribunal of justice, the mint, 
and the alhondtga or granary. An acqueduct, 6,553 varas long, is 
built to the centre of the plaza, where it discharges its water through 
a well-sculptured fountain. In the square of San Felipe a modest 
monument was erected to the memory of the unfortunate leaders of 
the revolution. The present population of the city is 16,000. 

Parral, or Hidalgo, in the centre of a large and rich mining 
distnct. 

Guadaloupe y Calvo. 

Jimenes, or Guajuquilla, contains a population of about eight 
thousand people, and is a neat, clean, little town. It is situated near 
the Rio Florido. 

Allende. 

Concepcion. 

Paso del Norte is situated on the western bank of the Rio 
Grande, in the northeast comer of the State. It is compactly 
built for the space of a half mile near the plaza, and from there it 
extends from five to ten miles along the rich bottom lands of the 
river — each house is surrounded by orchards, vineyards and cul- 
tivated fields. The valley, or bottom land, is from one to two miles 
in width. It is supposed to have been settled about the year 1585. 
In 1600 missionaries were living in the valley, then occupied by the 
Piso Indians, who had a village named Sinecu in the neighborhood 
of the present town of El Paso. The height of the valley, at El 
Paso, according to Dr. Wentzelnus, is 3,800 feet above the level of 
the gulf. 



38 
THE STATE OF COLIMA. 

BOUNDARIES, AREA, POPULATION. 

This State is bounded on the north and northeast by the State 
of Jalisco, on the east by the State of Michoacan, and on the south 
and west by the Pacific Ocean. 

Its area contains 552 squares leagues. 

Mozmtams. — Steep mountains of no great height separate 
this State from that of Jalisco. Among the principal mountains is 
the volcano of Colima ; deep ravines and steep mountains surround 
this State. 

Population: 65,827 inhabitants. 

Rivers aitd Lakes. — The principal rivers are those of Colima, 
la Armeria, Coahuayana, Maracasco and Huerta. The lakes of 
Cuyutlan, or of Alligators, and that of Alcazagua are worthy of 
note. 

Seaports. — The principal seaport of this State is that of Man- 
zanillo ; it does a large foreign commerce. 

Natural productions. — This State produces delicious fruits. 
Among its production is a quality of coffee, which is said by com- 
petent persons to be superior to the mocha. Stock raising is carried 
on to some extent and is very profitable. The sea-coast abounds in 
fish. The principal industry of this State consist in refining salt, 
cocoanut oil, aniseed, nitre, sugar, aguardiente de caiia, rhum, and 
mescal. 

Political divisions. — This State is divided into seven municipali- 
ties, viz. : Colima, Villa Alvarez, Cornala, Coquinatlan, Tecoman, 
Ixtlahuacan, Manzanillo. 

The City of Colima, situated on the river of the same name, 
has a population of 32,000 inhabitants. At the time of the conquest 
the inhabitants of this portion of Mexico were tributaries of the 
Mexican Emperor, and paid their tribute in tilmas (a mexican cloak 
made of feathers, etc.), cacao, and pearls. After the conquest, 
about sixty Spaniards settled there and intermarried with the 
natives, a few Manillians also mixed with them, who to-day form the 
principal part of the population, although many French, English 
and Germans have settled at Colima. 

Colima was created a State in February 1857. 



39 
THE STATE OF DURANGO. 

SITUATION, LIMIT AND AREA. 

The State of Durango is situated between the 22° 53' 20" and 
the 26^ 27' 50" north latitude, and the 3^^ 45' and 7° 47' west lon- 
gitude from the City of Mexico. 

This State is bounded by the State of Chihuahua on the north, 
the State of Coahuila on the east, Zacatecas on the southeast, Jalisco 
on the south, and Sinaloa on the west. 

Its superficy contains an area of 6,745 square leagues. Du- 
rango was created a State in 1824. 

Topographical aspect and climate. — The country is divided 
by high mountains — part of the Sierra Madre range that separate 
this State from that of Sinaloa. 

As in all the Mexican States the climate varies according to 
the altitude, but on an average the climate can be considered as 
temperate. 

Rivers. — Those worthy of note are the Rio de Nazas, that has 
a course of 108 leagues, after which it empties in the Lake of Cai- 
nan. Along the banks of this river are some of the best haciendas 
or grain estates in all Mexico ; also the Rio de las Palomas and Rio 
del Tunal. 

Mountains. — Those of most importance are formed by the pro- 
longation of the Sierra Madre mountain range. 

Natural productio7ts. — Com, wheat, beans, pepper, which are 
the main articles of home consumption, are cultivated with success. 
Cotton, peas, sugar-cane and barley are also grown with success. 

Stock. — Horses, homed cattle and sheep do remarkably well. 

Mining, — This State is rich in mining and agriculture; 
but, owing to the incursions of the Apaches and other Indians, 
as well as on account of civil strifes, those elements have not 
been worked with profit of late years. Rich mines of copper, tm, 
lead and other metals are known to exist. \See the catalogue.] In 
the district of Durango is known to exist one of the richest iron 
mine in the whole American continent. It is known as the Cerro 
del Mercado, and was named after a distinguished Spanish captain, 
who conquered that country for the king of Spain. 

In the mint of this State, in the year 1855, $682,812 were coined 
in gold and silver. 



40 

Population. — The population of the State in 1856 was set 
down at 156,159 inhabitants ; population in 1881, 200,000. 

Industry. -^Y^y^ cotton and wool factories, five or six in num- 
ber, form all the industry of the State, 

Principal cities and towns. — Durango, capital of the State. 
The District and municipahty of the same name is situated between 
latitude 24*^ 1' north, and \^ 52' west longitude, from the City of 
Mexico. The city has a population of 28,000 souls. It has eleven 
churches, one mint, one hospital, a theatre, and an arena for bull 
fights. 

Among the other principal towns should be noted the following : 

Santiago Papasquiaro, Santa Maria del Oro, Nombre de Dios, 
Cuencami, Mezquital, Tomazula, Cerro Gordo, San Dima, San 
Juan del Rio, and Naza. 

When railroads will unite this State with the United States, it 
will prove to be one of the most important of the Republic. 



THE STATE OF GUANAJUATO. 

SITUATION, BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 

The State of Guanajuato is situated between the lo"" and 21' 
44" north latitude, and between the o*' 30' and 2° 47' west longi- 
tude from the City of Mexico. 

This State is bounded on the north by the State of San Luis 
Potosi, on the east by Queretaro, on the south by Michoacan, and 
on the west by the State of Jalisco. 

Its greatest length from north to south is 46 leagues, and its 
greatest width from east to west is 53 leagues — containing a total 
area of 1,755 square leagues. 

Rivers. — The principal rivers are the following : 

The Rio de Santiago, or de Lerma, that enters this State from 
the southeast, and passing through the cities of Acambaro, Salva- 
tierra, Salamanca and the Hacienda of Pantoja. After a course of 
35 leagues in this State, it empties into Lake Chapala. 

The Rio de la Laja that takes its rise in the mountain, and 



41 

after irrigating the lands near the city of San Miguel de Allende, 
and flowing by that city and those of Chamacuero, Celaya, and 
before uniting its waters with the Rio de Lerma, has a course of 
over 30 leagues. 

The Rio Turbio rises in the mountain near the Hacienda de 
Altos de Harra. 

Mountains. — Among the highest mountains in the sierra, or 
mountain chain, of Guanajuato are the following : 

The Cerro, or peak, of the los Nanitos is situated two leagues 
north from the capital. Its highest point being 3,359 varas above 
the level of the sea. 

The mountain of El Gigante, which is situated northwest of 
Guanajuato. Its elevation is 2,800 varas above the level of the sea. 

West of the city of Guanajuato, and near the city of Silao, is 
the Cerro del Cubilete. 

The population of this State was set down at 874,073 inhabit- 
ants in 1856. Its population, in 188 1, at 889,575 souls. 

Dialects. — The majority of the population speak the Spanish 
language. The Indians speak mostly the Otomi, with the exception 
of those of the town of Amedo in the Sierra de Xichu, who speak 
the Fame, and those who live near the boundary line of Michoa- 
can, who speak the Tarasco language. 

Cities and towns. — Those of most importance in the State are 
Guanajuato, the capital of the State and of the district of the same 
name. It is situated 94 leagues northwest from the City of Mexico, 
in a caiion in the 21*^ of latitude north, and i*^ 49' west longitude, 
from the City of Mexico. Its population was set down, in 1856, 
at 63,398 inhabitants. 

Celaya. 

Salvatierra. 

San Miguel de Allende is a beautiful city, situated on the de- 
clivity of a high hill, at the foot of which runs the Rio de la Laja, 
which is crossed by a good stone bridge, although it is fordable 
nearly all the year. The population of the city is not less than 
25,000. 

Leon, situated west of Guanajuato, is a manufacturing city. 
The best saddles and leather in the Republic are manufactured at 
this place. In 1865, its population ascended to 166,000 people ; 
and, although it is noted in geography as a town of ten or twenty 



42 

thousand inhabitants, it was then, and is now in population, the 
second city of the Republic. 

Salamanca, a city of some importance. 

Among the large towns, the following are worth mentioning, 
viz. : Dolores Hidalgo. The streets in this town are well paved. 
There are several fine churches and plazas. This place has become 
celebrated in Mexican history on account of its parish priest. Padre 
Hidalgo, having declared Mexican independence on the i6th of 
September, 1810. 

Silao. 

Acambaro. 

San Luis de la Paz. 

The principal villages of this State are the following (some of 
these villages are really good-size towns) : Romita, Valle de San- 
tiago, Pueblo Nuevo, San Juan de la Vega, Rincon de Tamaye, 
San Andres el Alto, Guaje, Tarrandacuo, San Bartolo, Neutta and 
others. 

In 1856, there existed in the State 398 haciendas and 816 
ranches (or farms). 

The total assessed valued of real estate in this State, in 1856, 
amounted to $27,117,728. 

Mming. — The mines of the State are celebrated, not only for 
their antiquities, but for their extraordinary richness {see the Cata- 
logue']. The principal mining districts in the State are those of 
Guanajuato, La Luz, Monte de San Nicolas, Santa Rosa y Santa 
Ana, San Jose Iturbide, San Luis de la Paz, Xichu and Arteaga, 
belonging formerly to the territory of Sierra Gorda. The rich 
mines of Valenciana, Mellado, Villalpando, Rayas y la Luz, and San 
Jose de los Muchachos produce gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, tin, 
magistral, cinnabar and many other substances. 

The amount of gold and silver coined at the mint of Guana- 
juato, from the year 1827 to the latter part of the year 1855, 
amounted to $124,896,504. 

Industry. — In the city of Salamanca there are several factories 
of unbleached cotton ; in Salvatierra, factories of cotton thread ; in 
Celaya, several factories of woolen cassimeres of very good quality. 



43 
THE STATE OF GUERRERO. 

SITUATION, BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 

The State of Guerrero is bounded on the north by that of 
Mexico ; east, by the States of Puebla and Oaxaca ; and on the south 
by the Pacific Ocean. Its area contains 3,500 square leagues. 

Guerrero was admitted as a State in 1849. 
Topographical aspect and climate. — This is one of the States 
of the Republic that displays to the traveller's eye the gpreatest 
variety of vegetation. The numerous mountains and hills, forests 
and ravines, that divide the country at short distances, occasionally 
show, in a savage way, the untold wealth of this extraordinary 
portion of Mexico, where immense richness will only be developed 
when the railway from the City of Mexico shall be constructed to 
Acapulco, on the Pacific. 

The climate of the State, with few exceptions, is extremely 
warm, and very unhealthy along the Pacific coast. 

Rivers. — The most noted is that of Las Balsas. 

Lakes. — Those of Coyuca and Tecpa. 

Natural productions. — All tropical fruits are produced in this 
State ; also a great variety of timber ; com, peas, beans are raised 
in large quantities, and constitute the principal nourishment of the 
inhabitants. 

Mining. — This State is considered one of the richest of 
Mexico in mineral wealth. Lately, some gold placers have been 
discovered, which are said to be richer than those of Upper 
California. 

Population. — It was set down, in 1856, at 270,000 people, and, 
in 1 88 1, at 325,000. 

Tixtla, or Ciudad Guerrero, is situated in latitute 17^ 34' north, 
and 0° 11' west longitude, from the City of Mexico. It is situated 
in one of the gorges formed by the cordillera, at an elevation of 
1,740 varas above the sea. Its population is about 8,000 souls. 

The capital of this State, Chilpancingo, has a small population 
of about 3,000 inhabitants. It is celebrated in Mexican history for 
being the town where the first Mexican Congress met, after the first 
cry for liberty had caused the Mexican people to rebel against the 
iron rule of Spain. 



44 
THE STATE OF HIDALGO. 

Hidalgo was created a State in 1 869, 

It is bounded on the north by the State of San Luis Potosi ; on 
the northeast by the State of Vera Cruz ; on the east by the State 
of Puebla ; on the south, by the State of Tlaxcala ; on the souhwest 
by the State of Mexico ; and on the west by the State of Queretaro. 

Area. — Its area covers 1,521 square leagues. 

Population. — Its population consists of 404^207 inhabitants. 

Productions. — This State produces all kinds of cereals, and 
all fruits grown in tropical and temperate climates. It possesses 
rich mines of silver, copper, lead, stone-coal and sulphur. The 
maguey plant is produced in abundance. 

The value of real estate was $10,507,828, in 1880. 

Principal cities and towns. — Pachuca, capital of the State, has 
a population of 1 5,000 souls. The seat of the Real del Monte Min- 
ing Company, the largest mining company in Mexico, is located in 
this city. There are in its vicinity many rich smelting works. 

Tulancingo is situated in one of the richest portions of Mexico. 
The Gould and Degress International and Interoceanic Railway, 
from Laredo to the City of Mexico, will pass through this city. 



STATE OF JALISCO. 

SITUATION, BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 

Tbe great State of Jalisco is situated between 18° 51' and 
23^ 12' of north latitude, and 2° 20' and 6* 57' west longitude, 
from the City of Mexico. It is bounded dn the north by the States 
of Sinaloa and Durango ; on the east, by the States of Zacaltecas, 
Guanajuato and Michoacan ; on the south, by Michoacan and 
Colima ; and on the west, for a distance of 142 leagues, by the 
Pacific Ocean. Its superficial area is 8,324 square leagues. 

Jalisco was created a State in 1824. 

Topographical aspect and climate. — The Sierra Madre chain 
of mountains runs almost through the centre of the State, from north 



45 

to south. On both sides of the mountains are beautiful, extensive 
and rich valleys fertilized by several streams. One of the princi- 
pal valleys is that of the Rio de Santiago. A great variety of trees, 
its rich vegetation and beautiful scenery give this portion of Mexico 
a most beautiful landscape. Its climate varies according to its alti- 
tudes. It may be considered cold in the districts of Lagos, La. 
Barca and Cololtan ; temperate in those of Guadalajara and Etzat- 
lan ; warm in those of Aultan and Tepic ; and variable in the dis- 
trict of Sayula. 

Seaports. — The port of San Bias is situated ii6 leagues from 
the capital of the State, on the Pacific coast. The old town of San 
Bias, about three-quarters of a mile distant from the new site, is 
situated on the summit of an isolated rock, from one hundred and 
fifty to two hundred feet high. This rock, which rises abruptly 
from a low, swampy and partly wooded plain, is inaccessible on 
three sides. The northern side has been cut away, and a winding 
path, of easy ascent, leads to the top. This road is closely lined 
wdth a dense forest of cocoa, banana, plantain and other tropical 
trees, together with a thick undergrowth of flowering plants and 
vines, which are closely bound together, and prevent all ingress. 
The bold, rocky mass presents a most picturesque appearance. 
Portions of it exhibit a bare perpendicular front, while others are 
covered with a most luxuriant vegetation. The summit, which is 
about five hundred yards square, was formerly occupied by the 
town ; but, owing to the unhealthiness of the location, it has been 
deserted and suffered to fall into decay. 

The business of the town has long been transacted at the 
Playa, or shore, where the present landing is. The Custom-House 
was for many years at Tepic, a city twenty-five miles mland. It 
was established there on account of the unhealthiness of San Bias. 

Among the other ports of some importance are those of To- 
maltan, Ohamelta, Tenacatita and Natividad. 

Rivers. — The Rio Grande, which is also known as the Rio de 
Santiago (James River) or Lerma, the Rio Verde, in the district of 
Lagos, and those of Lagos, Ameca, Ayuquila, San Pedro, the Tepic, 
the Acaponela, the Jerez, and the Rio de Cafias. 

Lakes. — The lake of Chapala, that contains an area of 75,695 
acres, and those of Sayula, la Magdelena, and that of Mescaltitan, 
in the district of Tepic. 



46 

Mountains. — The principal chains are those of Tapalpa and 
Tigre, in the district of Sayula ; the Sierra Madre, that runs through 
the districts of Sayula, Etzatlan and Cololtan ; the Nevado, and the 
Volcano of Colima on the south. 

Vegetable productions. — Among the timber most worthy of 
note are the following, viz. : cedar, mahogany, pine, ash. Brazil- 
wood, log-wood, copal, mezquite, sabin, white-wood, and many 
others too numerous to mention here. 

Among the fruits, which in this State are of excellent 
quality and great variety, are to be noted the bananas, oranges, 
lemons, plums, nuts, figs, pine-apples, the sweet zote, the Amer- 
ican mammee-tree, the chirimoya, the most delicious fruit on the 
American continent. 

A great portion of the State produces coffee, sugar-cane, 
cotton, vanilla and tobacco. 

Agriculture, like in all Mexican States, is in the most primitive 
condition ; corn, wheat, beans, peas, barley, and pepper are cul- 
tivated with great success and form the main subsistence of the 
inhabitants of the State. 

Mines. — The principal mining districts of this State are those 
of Bolafios and Copala ; they produce gold, silver, copper and iron. 

In the year 1855, the mint at Guadalajara coined $10,368 in 
gold and $644,050 in silver. 

Zoology. — All kinds of stock do well in the State. In the 
lake of Chapala are found a great variety of aquatic birds and fishes. 
Among the birds most all the varieties of wild-geese and ducks ; 
among the fish, a variety of the ''Bagre," a delicious fish, and the 
white-fish. In the small bay of Valle de Banderas, on the Pacific 
coast, are rich pearl fisheries. 

Territorial Divisions.— Th^ State is divided into eight dis- 
tricts,whose names are given below : Guadalajara, Lagos, La Barca, 
Sayula, Etzatlan, Autlan, Tepic and Cololtan. 

Population. — Was set down in 1856 at 804,058 inhabitants. 
In 1 88 1 at 934,850 souls. 

Principal Cities and Towns. — The city of Guadalajara, 
capital of the State and of the district of the same name, is 
situated in latitude 20*^ 41' north and 4° 15' west longitude from 
the City of Mexico, and 1 50 leagues distant from that capital. Its 
streets are wide and at right angles. It has fourteen squares ; the 



47 

principal square is the Plaza de Armas (Military Square), on the 
east side of which is situated the Government Palace. The portico 
of Cortazar (a distinguished leader of the revolution of 1810), on 
the south ; the Portico of Bolivar on the west, and the Sagrario 
(Sagrario is a church where holy relicts are kept) on the north. 

Among the principal edifices are the Government Palace, the 
Hospital, the Bishop's Palace, the City Hall, the Mint, the Custom- 
House and the Theatre. Among the private buildings are many 
that would be an ornament to any city. Guadalajara was always 
considered the third city of the Republic in wealth and population. 

This city possesses a university, a college, an academy of 
painting, drawing, architecture and sculpture, also a seminar}", 
besides many establishments of primary education. 

The Alameda is a fine public walk, well ornamented with trees 
and fountains. The climate of the city is very dry. The popula- 
tion of the city, in 1856, was set down at 68,000 inhabitants. 

liidustry. — There are in the city several factories of unbleached 
cotton and of woolen goods. It was at one time the most noted 
city for the manufacture of silk, thread, and cotton rebozos (a sort 
of Mexican scarf, used by Mexican ladies in which to wrap them- 
selves, a very graceful piece of attire that distinguishes the Mexican 
ladies from those of other nations). 

The City of Lagos, containing 10,000 inhabitants, is an import- 
ant manufacturing place. 

The City of San Juan de los Lagos — its population was setdown^ 
in 1856, at 6,000 people. This is a noted place on account of the 
yearly fair that used to take place in that city. At one time it was 
the emporium of commerce of all the country situated northwest 
of the capital. Merchants from all parts of the world resorted to 
that great fair. It has lost much of its importance of late years. 

La Barca. 

Tepatitlan. 

Sayula, 

Zapotlan. 

Ameca — has large sugar refineries and tanneries. 

Autlan. 

Mascota. 

Compostela. 

Almacatlan. 



48 

Colotlan. 

All the above are large towns, with populations varying from 
five to fifteen thousand. Also Tepic, a large, fine city, well laid out, 
about twenty-five miles from the port of San Bias, in a beautiful 
country ; it is also a manufacturing place of importance. Among 
its produce it is celebrated for its good quality of cigars. 

In this State there are many little towns where Mexican pottery 
is manufactured. 



THE STATE OF MEXICO. 

This State is bounded as follows : On the north, by the new 
State of Hidalgo ; on the east, by the States of Tlaxcala, Puebla and 
Morelos ; on the south, by the States of Morelos and Guerrero ; and 
on the west, by the State of Michoacan. 

This State is divided into the following districts, viz. : Toluca, 
Lerma, Tenango, Ixtlahuaca, Jilotepec, Zumpango, Otumba, Tex- 
coco, Chalco, Sultepec, Tejupilco, Tenancingo, Tlalnepantla, Cuau- 
titlan, and Villa del Valle. 

The city of Toluca, capital of the State, has a population of 
14,376 inhabitants. The district of the same name, in which it is 
situated, is the highest inhabited land of Mexico, being situated at 
an elevation of 3,110 varas, or 8,638 feet above the level of the 
Gulf of Mexico. Toluca itself is 498 varas higher than the City of 
Mexico. The climate is cold. 

The district of Tlalnepantla is composed of rich plains, well 
cultivated, in which is situated the city of the same name, and is- 
renowned for its mild climate and pretty landscape. It is a Summer 
resort for the inhabitants of the City of Mexico, being almost one 
of its suburbs. 

The district of Texcoco comprises the lowest portion of the 
great valley of Mexico, where all its waters unite and form the two 
great lakes of Texcoco and Chalco. The other portion of this dis- 
trict is composed of beautiful hills, whose climate is delightful. The 
district of Zultepec comprises rich mineral hills, and also enjoys a 
temperate climate. 



49 

The population of this State was set down at 607,435 inhabi- 
tants in 1 88 1. 



STATE OF MICHOACAN. 

SITUATION, BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 

The State of Michoacan is situated between 17° 50' 5" 
and 20 26' 30" north latitude, and i ° 9' 20" and 4 ° 3' 30" 
west longitude from the City of Mexico. The western portion is 
crossed by the Cordillera. It is bounded on the north by the State 
of Guanajuato. The Rio de Lerma, known here as the Rio 
Grande, and a portion of Lake Chapala, forming a natural boundary ; 
on the east, by the States of Queretaro and Mexico ; on the south, by 
the States of Mexico and Guerrero, and on the west, for more than 
thirty leagues, by the Pacific Ocean, the States of'Colima and 
Jalisco. Its superficy contains an area of 6,556 square leagues. 

Michoacan was admitted as a State in 1826. 

Topographical aspect and climate. — This State is very fertile. 
Its surface is composed of vast inclined plains, of easy grade toward 
the Pacific shore, which are divided by branches of the Cordillera. 
The Sierra Madre (Mother or Main Chain) enters this State in the 
district of Coalcoman. The climate in general is temperate but 
damp. 

Rivers. — The principal are the Rio Grande or de Lerma, the 
Rio Duero, the Pantla, the Rio de las Balsas or Puebla and the 
Melonar. 

Lakes. — The principal one is that of Patzcuaro. In this lake 
are five small islands ; their names are : Xanicho, Pacanda, Xara- 
cuaro, Yuguan and Tecuen. These small islands present to the 
traveller an enchanted landscape of beauty beyond description, 
particularly those of Xanicho and Pacanda, which are covered with 
beautiful flowers and rich vegetation. All those appear to move 
like the floating gardens of the Valley of Mexico. This lake is only 
five leagues long from northeast to southwest, and about twelve in 
circumference. And the lake of Cuitzco, north of Morelia. 

Mountains. — The most important are the Jorrullo (volcano), 



50 

the Taneitaro, Periban, the Tzirate, and the peaks of Pantamban, 
San Nicolas and San Andres. 

Natural productions. — Here we will only enumerate a few of 
the most valuable productions of this rich State, where everything 
is still to be developed. Among the timber are found the maho- 
gany, oak, ebony, iron-wood, cedar, rosewood, evergreen oaks, and 
many still unknown in the United States. Corn, wheat, barley, 
oats and beans are cultivated with success ; also, the cocoa, sugar- 
cane, coffee, cotton, vanilla and aniseed are produced and could 
be made the chief produce of this State for exports. 

Zoology. — Among the wild animals the deer, hare, rabbit, the 
coyote and many others are found. Also a great variety of birds. 
Among the fishes are the Bagre and white-fish. 

Aiming. — Among the richest in all Mexico in old times was 
the mining district of Tlalpujahua, also those of Angangueo, 
Espiritu Santo, Guayabo, Inguaran, Curucupaceo, Ozumaltan y 
Barra, Chapatuato, San Antonio, Cualcoman, and many others. 
The produce of these mines consist of silver mixed with gold, 
copper mixed with gold, iron, cinnabar, antimony, stone-coal, and 
emery. 

The State is divided into four districts, known as the districts 
of Morelia, Patzcuaro, Maravatio, and Zamora. 

Population. — This State, in 1856, had a population of 491,679 
inhabitants, entirely 7n^tis (mixed breed) and Indians; in 1881, 
618,240 souls. 

Dialects. — The principal spoken are the Tarasco and the 
Otomi. 

Real estate. — In 1856, there was in the State 6,989 country 
estates or small farms, and 2,386 houses, situated in cities. The 
assessed value of the same amounted to the sum of $14,181,662. 
This aggregate value did not include the clergy, or church property, 
which then amounted to the sum of $800,000. 

Industry. — The principal industry of this State consists in 
mining, agriculture, also some silk and cotton manufactures of good 
quality, which can be developed when railway communications are 
opened. 

The State possesses three cities : Morelia, Patzcuaro and 
Zamora ; two towns : ITacambaro and Zitacuaro ; 276 villages, and 
many haciendas and ranches. 



51 



THE STATE OF MORELOS. 

This State was created, in 1 869, out of the States of Mexico and 
Puebla. It is bounded as follows : On the north, by the State of 
Mexico ; on the east, by the State of Puebla ; on the south, by the 
State of Guerrero ; and on the west, by the State of Mexico. 

It contains an area of 262 square leagues. 

Its population, according to latest statistics, consists of 1 59,300 
souls. 

Its principal productions are coffee, sugar, fruits, com, rice, 
alcohol, wheat, etc., etc. 

History. — This State is situated in the ancient country of the 
Tlahuicos, part of the estate of the Marquis del Valle Hernando 
Cortez, the conqueror of Mexico, and was, prior to the 17th of April, 
1869, a district of the State of Mexico. It was named in honor of 
ex-priest. General Don Jose Maria Morelos y Pabon, one of the 
principal chiefs of the revolution for independence of Mexico. 

Principal cities a7id towns. — Cuemavaca, capital of the State, 
was founded by the Tlahuicos, a tribe of the nation Nahuatlacos, 
about the fourteenth century. It was incorporated, in 1432, by 
Itzcoatl to the crown of Mexico ; was conquered by the Spaniards 
in April, 1521 ; declared a city October 14th, 1834. It contains the 
palace of Hernando Cortez, the parochial church, built in 171 3, the 
beautiful church of Guadaloupe, and of Los Tepetates, San Pedro 
and San Pablo, the immense gardens of Borda in ruins, market, 
hospital, a garden on its principal square, two Protestant churches, 
a literary institute, the Stage and San Pedro hotels. The Indian 
name of this city was Quanhuahuac (which means, adjoining the 
beautiful hills). It contains a population of 12,000 souls. The un 
fortunate emperor, Maximilian, made it his favorite place of resort 

Cuantla de Morelos, principal city of the district of Morelos, 
called the " Heroical Cuautla," was also founded by the Tlahuicos, 
with the name of Quanhtli (delightful hills) ; was conquered by the 
Spaniards in 1521, who called it Cuautla de Amilpas ; it was cre- 
ated a city in April, 1829. It possesses a fine city hall, a public 
garden, a parochial church, built in 1605, and the churches of San 
Diego, Senor del Pueblo, or lord of the city and the calvary. It 
has a population of 3,000 souls. Yantepec of Zaragoza, the princi- 



52 

pal city of the district of Yantepec, was founded by the Tlahuicos 
and conquered by Montezuma the first, in 1440, and by the Span- 
iards in 1 521. Its Indian name was mountain where the flower of 
yahutli grows ; said flower has a scent like the anil. It was cre- 
ated a city in 1869, and has a population of 4,500 souls. 

In the same district is the City of Tetecala de la Reforma, 
created a city December, 1873. Its Indian name Tetecala means a 
stone-house. It has a good City Hall, hospital and a main square. 
Population, 2, 500 inhabitants. 

City of Jojutla de Juares, created a city in May, 1873. Has 
a City Hall, parochial church, hospital and 4,175 inhabitants. 

This State contains 5 cities, 13 towns, 106 villages, 7 hamlets, 
48 haciendas and 54 ranches. 

The value of real estate is set down at ^4,193,315.32. 



THE STATE OF NUEVO LEON. 

SITUATION, BOUNDARY AND AREA. 

This State is situated between the 23^ 5' and 27** 10' latitude 
north, and o^ 30' east longitude, and I ^ 26' 40" west longitude 
from the City of Mexico. It is bounded on the north and west by 
the State of Coahuila ; on the north and east by the State of Ta- 
maulipas ; on the south-west by the State of San Luis Potosi. Its 
greatest length from north to south is 284 American miles, and its 
greatest width from east to west is 105 miles; its area contains 
6,695 square miles. Population in 1856, according to Jesus Her- 
mosa, 144,869 inhabitants ; population, according to a semi-official 
paper published in 1875, 178,872 ; in 1881, 201,732 souls. 

Mountains. — Besides the Sierra Madre and many other spurs 
of mountains, the most noted are the Cerro de la Silla, or Saddle 
Mountain, about six miles south-east from the City of Monterey, 
the Mitra, the Picacho, Santa Clara, La Iguana and Gomez 
Mountains. 

Rivers. — Among the principal streams are the Salado, El Can- 



53 

dela, El Sabina. The San Juan, which rises in the Sierra Madre 
mountains, and has a course of about 130 miles before uniting- its 
waters with that of the Rio Grande; the Pilon, Monterey and 
Linares rivers, etc. 

Census. — In 1856 this State contained 4 cities, 29 towns, 118 
haciendas, 481 ranches and 182 small ranches. 

Natural Productions. — Agricultural productions are numer- 
ous and of a great variety ; among the timber is found the ebony. 
Brazil-wood, beech tree, oak, ash, coyotilla, huisache, cedar, pal- 
metto, frijolillio, huiachillo, elm, mesquite, willow, pecan, hackberry, 
cypress, pine, javay. The Irish potato grows wild in the mountains. 

Fruzts, Vegetables and Grain. — Among the fruit trees are 
found the peach, pomegranate, apple, pear, lemon, orange, mul- 
berry, aguacate or laureus persea, the chirimoya, which is consi- 
dered the most delicious fruit in America (known in botany as the 
anana kumboldtzana), figs, bananas, pears, grapes, etc. 

This State produces all kinds of vegetables and corn, sugar- 
cane, oats, wheat and beans, and a great variety of flowers. 

Stock Raising. — Good grazing, adapted to all kinds of stock, 
is found in this State. In 1856 the State assessed 48,988 head of 
horses, 11,278 head of mules, 117,210 head of cattle, 529,159 head 
of sheep, and 15,568 head of hogs. 

Wild Animals, Gaine Birds, Aquatic Birds. — Among the 
wild animals and birds are found the following, viz. : mountain 
cats, bears, tigers (that is the jaguar), wolves, wild-hogs, hares, 
squirrels, armadillos, panthers, coyotes. Among the birds : mock- 
ing-birds, linnets, larks, cardinals, doves, colibris, pigeons, partridges 
and turkeys. Among the aquatic birds : duck, cranes, geese, 
herons, etc. 

Fish. — Among the fish are found eel, trout, bass, crawfish, 
perch and sea breams. Pearl oysters are found in the Salado river, 
also otter and beaver. 

Thermal Waters. — There are those of El Topo, Potrero 
Prieto, Huestas and Huajuco. 

Mines. — Most of the mines in this State have been but very 
httle developed, the surface metal only having been worked. Ac- 
cordmg to experts, they contam silver, iron, copper and lead, 
sulphur, nitrate of potash, alabaster, white and colored marble, and 
munate of soda. In the mineral district of Villa Aldamas, known 



54 



before the Mexican Independence as Boca de Leones, the Minas 
Viegas, Ladera, Catitta, etc., Vallecillo, Cadereita Jimenez. The 
mining districts of Sabina Santiago de las Sabinas, Santa Teresa 
and others. Most of the above mines are rich galena, containing 
silver varying from five to forty dollars per cargo of three hundred 
Mexican pounds. 

Schools. — In this State there w^ere, in 1875, 278 primary schools, 
carried on at a yearly expense of $70,400.00. 

Principal Cities and Towns. — Monterey, capital of the State, 
is situated in latitude 2^° 40' 6" north, and o** 49' west longitude 
from the City of Mexico ; 602 miles from the capital, and i ,626 
American feet above the level of the Gulf of Mexico. (For a better 
description, see itinerary from San Antonio, Texas, to the City of 
Mexico.) Although it is situated in a warm climate, it is very 
healthy, and is certainly destined to be one of the greatest cities on 
this side of fhe Sierra Madre mountains ; its present population is 
over 40,000 souls. 

The towns of Cadereita Jimenez, Linares, Montemorelos, Sa- 
linas, Ceralvo, and many others are beautiful places whose sur- 
rounding country is well adapted to agriculture. 



STATISTICS. — Agricultural productions of the State of 
Nuevo Leon, and value of the same for the year 1878 : 



Oats, 2,154 bushels. 

Sugar-cane, 

Sweet potatoes, 

Wax, 11,150 pounds, . 

Onions, 

Chile pepper, 104,050 pounds, 
Beans, 11,850 bushels. 
Peas, 270 
Corn, 751,200 

Maguey, 1,098,000 plants, 
Potatoes, 177,000 cwt.. . 

Pelloncillo, 1,368,250 
Ixtle, 3,811,875 

Wheat, 120,000 

Amount carried forward. 



$14,160 00 

165,300 00 

5,680 00 

8,840 00 

20,850 00 

4,136 00 

19,700 00 

280 00 

250,000 00 

144,250 00 

2,950 00 

437,840 00 

86,475 00 

9,600 00 



$1,170,061 00 



55 



Amoui 


nt brought forward. 


. $1,170,061 00 


Tobacco, 


45,750- " 


4,490 00 


Sugar, 


300,000 


36,000 00 


Mezcal, 


264,500 


41,840 00 


Fodder, 


7.303750 " 


73,085 00 


Bagging, 


37,500 " 


3,000 00 


Tomatoes 


measure, . 


590 00 


Peas, 900 


cwt 

amount of products. 


72 00 


Total 


. $1,329,138 00 



Total value of stock of all kinds. 



,021 00 



THE STATE OF OAXACA. 



SITUATION, BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 



Oaxaca, in olden times called Antequera, is one of the principal 
States of the Republic of Mexico. 

It is bounded on the north, by the State of Vera Cruz ; on the 
east by the State of Chiapas ; on the south by the Pacific Ocean ; 
on the west, by the State of Puebla. It contains an area of 4,426 
square leagues. 

Oaxaca was created a State in 1824. 

Topographical aspect and climate. — Many chains of moun- 
tains run over this State in various directions, and although the 
country is much broken, its climate in general is mild; like 
the balance of the Mexican territory, it varies according to its 
altitudes. 

Rivers, — They are few and of no importance. 

Natural productions. — Rich in all productions. This State 
has large forests of valuable timber, all tropical fruits, many valu- 
able gum trees, coffee, cacao, wheat, com and many other products 
of the temperate zone are cultivated with profit by the inhabitants. 



56 

Zoology. — All kinds of stock are raised in this State with little 
or no expense. Game and fish are abundant, and there are rich 
pearl fisheries on its Pacific coast. 

Mining. — This State possesses many mines rich in silver, gold, 
quartz, jaspers, marble and other valuable minerals ; but in former 
days the principal revenue of the State v^as derived from cochi- 
neal and aniseed. 

This State, in 1856, had a population of 489,969 inhabitants, 
and of 733,556 in 1881. 

Principal cities and towns, — The City of Oaxaca was founded 
in a beautiful valley by Juan Nunez del Mercado in the year 1628. 
Its streets are laid off at right angles. On the main square is situ- 
ated the Government palace, the cathedral, worthy of note on 
account of its elegant style of architecture and the porticos of our 
Lord and of the Star (la Estrella). Its population, in 1856, was set 
down at 28,000 souls. 

Principal towns. — Teotitlan, Huahuapan, Ejutla, Jamiltepec, 
Teposcola and Villa Alta. 

Among the distinguished men born in this State was President 
Juarez, who was a pure Zapotec Indian, educated at the Jesuit col- 
lege of Oaxaca, and whose memory will live in the minds of all lovers 
of liberty as one of the great figures of this continent. 



THE STATE OF PUEBLA. 

BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 

This State is bounded on the north by the States of Vera Cruz 
and Hidalgo ; on the east by the State of Vera Cruz ; on the south 
by the States of Guerrero and Oaxaca ; and on the west by the 
States of JVIorelos, Mexico, Tlaxcala and Hidalgo. 

Area, 1,725 square leagues. 

Puebla was created a State in 1 824. 

Population, 697,788 inhabitants in 1857. 

Population in 1881, 784,466 souls. 



57 

Mountains. — A wide chain of high mountains, cut at intervals 
by fertile valleys or plateaus, like those of San Martin, Puebla, 
Alixco and Chalchicomula, gives this State a peculiar topographical 
aspect without monotony. The mountains of Huaunchinango, Za- 
capoaxtla, Zacatlan and Tezintlan are among the principals. On 
the eastern boundary of the State are found the Cofre de Perote 
and the peak of Orizaba ; and on the west, the Popocatepetl and 
Ixtlacihuatl ; and on the north, the mountains of Zacatlan and 
Huaunchinango. 

Rivers. — The principal rivers of this State are the Atoyac, that 
rises in the mountains of Tlaxco, which in its course is also known as 
the Rio de las Balsas, and those of Vinasco, Pantepec, Cazenes and 
Zempoala. 

Climate and natural productions. — Climate generally tem- 
perate and healthy ; the soil, very fertile, produces all kinds of gra- 
minea, com, wheat, barley, oats, cotton and sugar. 

Mining. — In this State are seven mineral districts that produce 
gold and copper, argentiferous lead and iron ; stone-coal is sup- 
posed to exist in this State. The names of those districts are Tetela 
del Oro, San Jose, San Miguel, Ixcamastetlan, Tlalchachalco Hue- 
capan, Tlachiaque, Izucar. The ores of these mines are worked 
by both the smelting and amalgamating processes. 

Principal cities a7id tow7is. — Puebla de Zaragoza (formerly of 
the Angels), capital of the State and seat of the Bishopric, is situated 
in a fine valley, at an altitude of over 7,000 feet, in latitude 19° 
2' 45" north, and longitude 2° 4' 45" east, from the City of Mexico. 
It was founded on the 28th of September, 1531. 

Puebla, on account of its industries, is in importance general- 
ly considered as the third city of the Republic. Surrounded by the 
Atoyac, the San Francisco and Alzezeca rivers. It has an abun- 
dance of good water. It possesses 26 squares. Its cathedral is one 
of the finest in Mexico ; its sculptures and ornaments are extremely 
gaudy. Puebla has a fine museum — interesting for the numerous 
antiquities it contains. In 1856, the city contained 71 churches and 
chapels. Its population amounts to 76,817 souls. A railroad con- 
nects this city with that of Mexico and the port of Vera Cruz. 
It has factories of unbleached cotton, thread, crockery, glass and 
soap. Among the principal towns of this State are those of Alixco, 
Cholula, Izucar, Tehuacan, San Marten and San Andres. 



58 

Cholula is celebrated on account of its pyramid of the same 
name, which resembles very much the Egyptian pyramids. 



THE STATE OF QUERETARO. 

BOUNDARIES, AREA AND CLIMATE. 

This State is bounded on the north by the State of Guanajuato 
and San Luis Potosi ; on the east and south by the State of 
Mexico, and on the west by the States of Michoacan and Guana- 
juato. It contains an area of 506 square leagues. 

Queretaro was created a State in 1824. 

The climate in general is temperate and very healthy. 

Rivers. — There are none of much importance, although the 
State is well watered, we will only mention the Rio de la Silla and 
Santa Lucia. 

Natural productions. — Wheat, com, beans, cotton and all 
kinds of vegetables and fruits proper to European and American 
climates do remarkably well in this State. There is in the mountain 
forests a great variety of first class timber. 

Industry. — Queretaro has had quite a name in Mexico for its 
manufactures of wollen cloth, casimires, carpets, blankets, and un- 
bleached cotton. It possesses one of the largest factories on this 
continent ; it is a cotton factory and a mill that we have described 
in our itinerary from San Antonio, Texas, to the City of Mexico ; 
this factory is known as the " Herculus." The artisans of the city 
have the reputation of being the best stone-sculptors in the Republic. 

Population. — The population of this State was set down at 
147,119 souls in 1856, and in 1881 at 154,000 souls. 

The City of Queratero which we have described in our itinerary 
from San Antonio to the City of Mexico, is the capital of the State. 
San Juan del Rio, a large manufacturing city of some importance ; 
Cadereita and other small towns. 

The Mexican Central Railway, which is to connect with the 
United States Railway system at El Paso, is now running four 
daily passenger trains from the capital to the City of Queretaro. 



59 



THE STATE OF SAN LUIS POTOSI. 

This State is situated between the 21*^ 40' and 24^ 35' north 
latitude, and o*' 36' east and 3*^ 15' west longitude from the City 
of Mexico. It is bounded on the northeast by the States of Nuevo 
Leon and Tamaulipas ; on the south by Guanajuato, Queretaro and 
Mexico ; on the west and northwest by Zacatecas. It has an area 
of 10,792 square miles. It was created a State in 1844. 

Various chains of mountains cross this State, forming many 
fine valleys, among which that of San Luis is noted for its large 
area ; that of Valley del Mais and Rio Verde are among the richest. 
The ravines and mountain chains in this State are spurs of the 
Cordillera chain, which covers the eastern portion of the Mexican 
Republic and forms the natural boundary^ line between the States 
of San Luis and Tamaulipas. 

This State enjoys all climates, that is the warm, temperate and 
cold ; but the greatest portion of its territory is favored with 
temperate and warm climates. 

But few rivers are found in this State, the most noted are the 
Santa Maria, the Montezuma or Zimapan, the Rio Verde and the 
Tampaon. 

The most remarkable chains of mountains are the Sierra de 
San Luis and the Sierra Gorda ; that on the south forms the bound- 
ary lines between this State and those of Guanajuato, Queretaro and 
Mexico. 

Natural productions. — In the temperate climes of this State, 
cedar, balsam, ebony, rosewood, mahogany, juni, cypress, oaks, 
millon and other woods are indigenous. 

There are many fruit trees, among which the following can be 
noted, viz.: lemon, peach, pears, oranges, apricots, zapote, small- 
white and black zapote {achras mammosd), mulberries, chirimoya 
{anana Humboldtiand) and others. 

Among the grains that can be cultivated with success in this 
State is com, wheat and oats, and all kinds of vegetables. 

Coffee, cotton, tobacco and sugar-cane of good quality can be 
produced with profit. 

Horn cattle, goats, sheep and horses do well in this State, and 
are raised in large quantities, as well as poultry. 



60 

Among the wild animals of the mountains and forests are 
found the jaguar or Mexican tiger, the puma or Mexican lion, pan- 
thers, wolves, deer, fox, monkeys and antelopes. 

Among the birds are found the following species, viz.: eagles, 
eaglets, larks, linnets, wild turkeys, golden pheasants, mocking- 
birds, sparrow-hawks and vultures. 

The mountains of this State are very rich in minerals ; but, 
like other portions of Mexico, they are not worked properly for 
want of capital and enterprise on the part of their owners, who do 
nothing or little with them, and will not allow any one else to ex- 
tract the mineral. The principal mines are those of Catorce, 
Guadalcazar, Charcas, Ramos, Ojo Caliente, San Pedro and Santa 
Maria del Penon Blanco. The above mentioned mines produce 
gold and silver, copper, lead, mercury and sulphur, the minerals 
being mostly of the kind called in the country red and bine silver. 

Santa Maria del Penon Blanco has also very rich salt deposits. 

And also the following mines : Blancas, Los Pozos, Matehuala, 
Ramos, Rio Verde and San Luis Potosi. 

There is a mint at San Luis Potosi, and during the Maximilian 
rule one was also estabhshed at the City of Catorce, which was 
suppressed in the year 1865. The mint at San Luis Potosi coined 
$1,849,794.95 in silver in 1855. 

Political divisions of this State. — This State is divided in four 
prefecturas, known as those of San Luis, Rio Verde, El Venado 
and Tancanhuiz, and eleven districts. Population, 650,000 inhabi- 
tants. 

Public instruction. — In 1875 there was in this 'State 252 
schools, attended by 9,676 boys and 3,343 girls — in all, 13,019 child- 
ren — carried on at a cost of $91,400. 

The price of public lands, as fixed by law for the year 1875, 
was $1,755.61 per sitio, or 4,605 of our acres. 

The City of San Luis Potosi, capital of the State and district of 
the same name, is situated on the east side of the great plateau of 
Anahuac, in a valley extending from north to south about 45 miles, 
in latitude 22^^ 8' north, and longitude i*' 40' west, of the City of 
Mexico. Its streets are narrow, and run at right angles. Among 
the principal buildings are the City Hall, the Granary, the Market, 
the Theatre. This city contains churches which for their sculptures 
can rival any in Mexico, particularly those of " El Carmen," the 



» 61 

Cathedral, San Francisco, San Augustin, La Merced, the College of 
Loretto and San Nicolas, the Hospital of San Juan de Dios, the 
Chapel of El Rosario and Los Remedios, and the Sanctuary of 
Guadaloupe, situated at the end of the Alamada public walk, well 
adorned with shade trees and sidewalks. 

Its population is 45,000 souls. It has not prospered lately, 
although it has always held a certain rank among the Mexican manu- 
facturing cities. It is of easy access, north and south, and any rail- 
road constructed from Texas to the City of Mexico must neces- 
sarily pass through it. It is, in future, destined to be a railroad 
centre, and will be the great commercial centre of Northern 
Mexico and the frontier of Texas. Its climate is healthy ; it is 
temperate, being never very cold nor very warm. 

Its principal commerce consists in Mexican groceries, seeds, 
bagging, leather and shoes. 

After the Royal Decree, dividing New Spain — as Mexico was 
then called — into Intendencies, the City of San Luis Potosi was made 
the capital of the Intendency of the same name, of which Texas 
formed one of the provinces. It was also the headquarters of the 
Tenth Military Brigade, at the time of the revolution of Hidalgo 
against the Spanish rule, on the i6th of September, 1810; and 
it was to the energy of its then distinguished Spanish commander. 
Gen. Calleja, that the revolution was suppressed and the indepen- 
dence of Mexico set back eleven years. 

Other cities and towns. — The present State of Texas formed 
part of the loth military brigade. 

Matehuala, situated within a few miles of the Cerro de los 
Frailes and the Catorce mountains, is fast improving. It has a 
population of 25,000 souls. 

Cedral, situated six miles north of Matehuala, is also a mining 
town. It has a population of 1 5,000 souls. 

Catorce — the real de Catorce — is only distant four leagues 
from Cedral, in the mountain of Catorce, one of the richest mining 
districts of Mexico. It has a population of 20,000 souls. 

Charcas, also a mining town, beautifully located ; population, 
4,000 inhabitants. 

El Venado, a city of 10,000 inhabitants ; Ciudad del Mais, Rio 
Verde, Valle of San Francisco, Moctezuma, and many other impor- 
tant and thriving towns. 



63 

One of the largest haciendas (estates) in the Republic of Mexico 
belongs to the jurisdiction of this State ; it is known as the Ha- 
cienda of Salado, situated on the main highway between the City 
of San Luis Potosi and Saltillo. Its lands belong to the four 
States of Zacatecas, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and San Luis, and con- 
tain an area of over 200 leagues in one block, or 885,600 acres. 
It is one of the best properties situated on the table lands of 
Mexico, being well adapted to all kinds of stock raising, and to the 
cultivation of all small grains and corn, the grape and all the frjits 
of the temperate climates. This hacienda is well watered by 
springs, wells and tanks, and water is found at a depth that varies 
from five to fifty feet. Its mountains, which are really the foot- 
hills of the Sierra de Catorce, contain over two thousand metallic 
veins ; some of its mines produced immense bonanzas last century ; 
they are principally silver, lead, copper, cinnabar, and some gold, 
also a rich iron deposit. The building materials, such as marble, 
rock suitable for hydraulic lime, fire-brick, and earth for the best 
kind of brick and crockery, are found in abundance for all purposes. 
Brushwood and small timber fit for fuel abound in the mountains. 
Its natural productions — if properly worked, would alone pay a 
large income — they consist principally of the plants known as the ma- 
guey, the lechuguillas, the zotole, the zolmandoque, the palmetto, 
the cactus, all of which abound over the hills and valleys of 
this immense estate, and all of which produce a valuable fiber, and 
whose roots or fruits can be distilled profitably into alcohol. The 
line of the Palmer-Sullivan Railway will traverse the lands of this 
estate from south to north on its section between the City of San 
Luis Potosi and Saltillo, passing through the ranches of El Gallo, 
Salado, San Miguel and San Salvador, all properties belonging to 
said hacienda. As poorly as it is worked to-day, it brings to its 
owner ten per cent, on a capital of one million dollars. The name 
of this vast estate is San Rafael del Salado y Agua Dulce, more 
commonly known as El Salado. It is the property of General Don 
Juan Bustamante, ex-Governor of the State of San Luis Potosi. 



63 

! 
THE STATE OF SINALOA. 

SITUATION, BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 

The State of Sinaloa, or country of the Ostimuro, is situated 
between the 11° 30' and 28** of north latitude. It is bounded on 
the north by the Yaqui and Sonora rivers ; on the east by the State 
of Durango and Chihuahua ; on the south by the Rio de los Cafias 
and the State of Jalisco ; and on the west by the Gulf of California, 
It contains an area of 3,825 square leagues. 

Sinaloa was created a State in 1834. 

Topographical aspect and climate. — South of the City of 
Culiacan, capital of the State, there are barren hills ; some portions 
of the State are level, with some high hills scattered about 
the plains. The climate of Culiacan is rather warm, but very 
healthy. 

Rivers. — The principal rivers are the Culiacan, which takes its 
rise in the Sierra Madre mountains of the State of Durango, and in 
this State unite its waters with the Humaya River, that empties into 
the Gulf of California at the port of Altata. 

Natural productions. — Among the most important are the 
following : Coffee, sugar-cane, tobacco, com, rice and beans are 
raised with great profit. There are many fine trees in the forest 
such as the Brazil-wood, etc., and all fruits raised in tropical and 
temperate climates abound. 

Mining. — Rich mines are worked in this State. They contain 
gold, silver, copper and lead. From the year 1846 to the year 1853 
the mint coined $4,620,422 in gold, and $1,963,636 in silver, making 
a total of $6,584,058. 

Population. — The population of the State was set down at 
250,000 inhabitants in 1856. 

Principal cities and towns. — Culiacan, capital of the State and 
district of the same name, was founded in 1 532, by Nuno de Guz- 
man. It is situated in latitude north 24^ 48', and 8^ 1 5' 32" west 
longitude, from the City of Mexico. The city is built on the left 
bank of the river of the same name. Its streets are straight, and 
cut each other at right angles. It has a fine square, on one side of 
which is situated the cathedral, and on the other are fine porticos 



64 

and magnificent (for the country) private buildings. The popula- 
tion of this city was set down at 9,647 in 1856. 

Mazatlan, a seaport of some importance, which has a great 
future, and will be probably the greatest port of Mexico on the 
Pacific. Its population in 1856 was registered at 3 1,000 inhabitants. 



THE STATE OF SONORA. 

SITUATION, BOUNDARY AND AREA. 

The State of Sonora is situated between 26° 40' and 33*^ 50' 
north latitude, and 8® 50' and 14^ 55' longitude from the City 
of Mexico. Its boundaries are, on the south, the State of Sinaloa — 
the Rio del Fuerte being the dividing line — and the Gulf of Califor- 
nia ; on the east, by the State of Chihuahua ; on the north, by the 
United States of America ; on the west by the Gulf of California. 
Its superficy contains an area of 11,953 square leagues. Sonora 
formed a part of the State of Occidente from 1822 to 1830. 

Topographical aspect and climate. — A large portion of this 
State is composed of vast plains separated by low mountains or 
hills. The climate, particularly along the coast of the Gulf of 
California, is warm. 

Rivers.— Th^ principal rivers are the Rio del Fuerte, the Yaqui, 
the Mayo, and the Colorado of California. 

Natural productions. — The northern portion of the State is 
well adapted to agriculture ; com, wheat, beans, peas, lentils, 
sugar-cane and tobacco produce good crops. Among the fruits 
cultivated are dates, peaches, figs, pears, grenades, lemons, and 
many others. 

Among the timber are found the logwood, the ebony, the elm, 
brown and Brazil-wood. 

This State is rich in medicinal plants. Some used by the na- 
tives, like the tomenagua and the root of canaguat, are a sure cure 
for fever. 

Zoology. — This State is well adapted to stock raising. The 
vast amount of wild lands, forests, and its large water courses are 



65 

full of game and fish. The Yaqui and Mayo Indians subsist 
mostly by hunting and fishing. Among the wild animals are the 
bear, tiger, wolf, the coyote, buffalo, otter, hare, rabbit and others. 

In the Gulf of California, the following fishes abound : the 
doree, the horse-mackerel, herring, the tunny-fish, whales, and 
many others for whose name no equivalent is found in the English 
language. 

In the rivers, carps, eels, bagres, and a variety of the trout 
called robalo, are found in abundance. 

This State is considered the richest in Mexico, and wonderful 
tales are told about its hidden wealth ; until lately, mining was 
almost abandoned on account of Indian depredations ; fortunately, 
but few Apaches are left to do harm, and the construction of the 
Southern Pacific Railway, with the investment of American capital 
and industry, will soon again develop its mining wealth. [See 
Catalogue of Mines.] The following minerals abound, particularly 
in the eastern portion of the State, viz. : gold, silver, copper, lead, 
sulphur, carbonate of soda, tin, antimony, alum, salt, potash, mar- 
ble, and gypsum ; pearls are found on the coast of the Gulf of Cali- 
fornia. 

This State is divided into nine partidos or districts, known as 
Hermosillo, Salvacion, Ures, San Ignacio, Altar, Moctezuma, Opo- 
sura, Sahuaripa, Arispe and Alamos. 

In 1856, this State assessed four cities, two towns, seventy- 
seven villages, fifty-two mining places, two Indian towns, and two 
hundred and fifty haciendas and ranches. 

Population. — In 1856, it was put down at 124,000 inhabitants. 
1 10,000 are either pure or descendants of Indians, and the balance 
white. The present population, official, is 141,000. Among the 
various nations of Indians who inhabit this State are the Opata, 
who live in the centre of the State ; the Pimas, the Papagos and 
Yumas, who live in the northern portion of the State ; the Yaquis 
and Mayos, who live in that portion of the State watered by the 
rivers of the same name, are corpulent ; their women are generally 
pretty, kind and of a jovial nature. They preserve to this day their 
traditions and customs ; they are also very industrious, and are 
good carpenters, blacksmiths and good sailors, and form the best 
laboring class of the State. 

The Opatas are half-civilized and very friendly to the whites. 



56 

They are a true, sober, and warlike race. They are mostly addicted 
to agriculture. Inveterate enemies of the Apaches, whom they 
used to fight with success, they are notwithstanding good and law- 
abiding citizens. 

The various tribes of Apaches that have constantly warred 
upon the people of Sonora and desolated the northern States of 
Mexico, were the Tontos, Chiricahuis, Gilefios, Mogollones and 
Mescaleros. The Spaniards were never able to subdue or induce 
them to become Christians. 

Principal cities and towns. — The City of Ures, the capital of 
the State, is situated on the east bank of the Sonora River ; was 
originally a missionary establishment, and among the earliest in the 
State. The town presents a lonely aspect. There are no edifices 
worth mentioning — the Legislative Hall being a large adobe house, 
distinguished by a flagstaff from the other buildings. The Jesuits, 
before their expulsion from Mexico, had commenced building a large 
church, which was never completed. It has a population of 8,000. 

Alamos is of some importance on account of the mines situated 
in its neighborhood. It possesses a few churches and a Government 
mint. 

Hermosillo is the modern name for the old Presidio of Pitic. 
It is thirty leagues distant from the nearest point on the shore of 
the Gulf of California, and thirty-six leagues from the port of Guay- 
amas, which lies nearly south. It is probably the finest city in the 
State. In 1856 it had a population of 15,000 people. The climate 
is dry and exceedingly hot, but nevertheless healthy. 

Guayamas stands on the eastern shore of the Gulf of California, 
in latitude 28*^ north, and i lo*' \o' west longitude, from Green- 
wich. It is completely shut in from the sea, as well as from the 
winds. Mountains protect it on the main land, while islands with 
elevated hills surround it by sea. Next to Acapulco, it is the best 
port on the Mexican coast. The entrance from south to north is 
formed by the Island of Pajaros on the east, and by the islands of 
San Vicente and Pitayas and the mainland on the west. There is 
another entrance, called Boca Chica, from the southeast, having 
the Island of Pajaros on the south, and the shore of Cochori on the 
north, which terminate at the Morro Ingles, or English Hammock. 
From the principal mouth to the mole is about four miles, and the 
bay is of about the same extent. The bottom is so muddy that 



67 

ships which are to remain some time, find it necessary to raise their 
anchors every week or so to prevent their becoming too deeply im- 
bedded to be extricated. The soundings commence with seven 
fathoms and diminish gradually to two at the mole. 

The bay abounds in fish of great variety and delicacy ; also 
with shrimps, crabs, lobsters and oysters. 

The town stands close on the margin of the bay, occupying a 
narrow strip about a mile in length, and not exceeding a quarter of 
a mile in width, when the mountains rise and hem it closely in. It 
is entered from the north by a single avenue, which forms the main 
street ; and this is intersected by short lateral ones leading to the 
bay. The houses are built of stone, brick and adobe. The water- 
supply comes from wells situated in the suburbs ; it is somewhat 
brackish, but is considered wholesome. 

Although Guayamas has one of the finest ports in the world, 
and is the key to the interior of Sonora, it has never enjoyed much 
trade until of late years. When it will be connected by railway 
with the Southern Pacific, it will become the greatest port of the 
Gulf of California. 

La Magdalena, a well-built town, Arispe, Presidio del Altar, in 
a rich grain valley, and Satmaripa, all capitals of the districts of the 
same names, are among the important cities of this State. 



THE STATE OF TABASCO. 

BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 

The State of Tabasco is bounded on the north by the Gulf of 
Mexico, on the east by the State of Campeche, on the south by 
the State of Chiapas, on the west by the State of Vera Cruz. Its 
area contains 1,876 square leagues. 

The name Tabasco is derived from the Cacique that governed 
the country at the time that it was discovered by the Spaniards. It 
was conquered and reduced to Spanish vasselage by the Spanish 
captain, Vallecilla. 



68 

The climate is warm and generally unhealthy. 

Water communications along the coast by the bars of Puerto, 
Real, Puerto Escondido, Punto de Zicalango ; bars of San Pedro 
and San Pablo, and bar of Tabasco are of easy access for small 
crafts. 

The population of the State, in 1856, was set down at 63,580 
inhabitants. 

The capital of the State, the City of San Juan Bautista de 
Tabasco, contains a population of 8,000 souls. The uresent popu- 
lation of the State is 104,759 inhabitants. 



THE STATE OF TAMAULIPAS. 

BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 

The State of Tamaulipas Hes between latitudes 22*^ 14' 4" and 
27/ 20" north of the City of Mexico. It is bounded on the north 
by the United States, or rather by the Rio Grande river, which is 
the boundary line ; on the northwest by the State of Nuevo Leon ; 
on the west and southwest by the State of San Luis Potosi ; on the 
south by the State of Vera Cruz, and on the east by the Gulf of 
Mexico. Previous to the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo, in 1848, a 
large portion of the present State of Texas, in the United States, 
belonged to Tamaulipas, the Nueces river being then the bound- 
ary line. 

Climate. — In the greater portion of the State the climate is 
warm and moist. In that part of Tamaulipas, situated west of the 
Sierra Madre mountains, it is cooler and dryer. Exclusive of a 
small strip of country bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, subject to 
yellow fever, the climate is salubrious. 

Rivers, lakes and mountains. — The principal rivers and 
streams in Tamaulipas are the Rio Grande del Norte, Panuco, 
Concha, Rio de la Purificacion, San Fernando, Goyalejo, and a 
number of others of minor importance. Of these rivers, the Rio 
Grande del Norte, the largest and most important, is navigable for 
a distance of about 250 miles from its mouth, while the Panuco, the 



69 

next largest, is navigable for the distance of eighteen miles for 
steamers. The only lake worthy of mention is the Laguna Madre, 
which connects with the Gulf of Mexico. Tamaulipas is traversed 
by the continuation of the Sierra Madre range, which crosses the 
State from the southeast to the northwest, from the Hacienda del 
Chaburo, on the division line between this State and that of San 
Luis to the town of Villagran, near the division line of Nuevo Leon, 
forming an almost impenetrable barrier. From this range of 
mountains, spurs extend in different directions, forming many beau- 
tiful valleys, among the principals of which are those of Santa Bar- 
bara and the Chamal Valley. The products are corn, cotton, rice, 
sugar-cane, beans, peas, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes (the latter 
being indigenous to the soil), all of which can be raised with but 
little trouble, and when properly cultivated yield prodigious crops. 
The maguey {Agave americana) is grown in large quantities. The 
principal fruits are peaches, bananas, mangos, the goayaba (from 
which the celebrated guava jelly is made), citron, the aguacate (a 
fruit resembling a pear, of which a delicious salad is made, the 
technical name being Paurus persea), the chirmoya {Anana hum- 
boldh'ana), the most delicious fruit in Am.erica. Timber is for the 
most part confined to the mountain regions. Besides abundance 
of timber fit for building purposes and fine cabinet-work, there is 
the ebony tree and the anacahuite. The latter is, however, more 
like a bush than a tree, and its use is purely medicinal ; the bark 
and root being remarkable for their curative properties in cases of 
diseased lungs and throat. 

Stock raising. — The eastern portion of this State, as well as 
that bordering on Texas, is admirably adapted for stock raising. 
Horses, horned cattle, sheep and goats are raised in large numbers. 
The mules raised in this State are the finest in Mexico. 

Game. — Game is abundant, and includes deer, turkey, hares^ 
rabbits and quail. The feathered creation is well represented, the 
trees being filled with parrots and many other kinds of birds. Among 
the wild animals, wolves, leopard and mountain cats may be enum- 
erated. The rivers abound with fish. 

Mineral products. — Tamaulipas is very rich in minerals, 
which are found exclusively in the mountainous regions. The sup- 
ply of gold, silver, copper and other minerals is almost inexhausti- 
ble. Marble and jasper have also been discovered. In the year 



70 

1856 the mines of Trinidad, Providencia, Los Pastores and Colorado 
were worked with great profit. The copper mine of San Carlos is 
also very rich, the copper ore containing a large percentage of gold. 
One great advantage this mine possesses, is the facility with which 
the metal could be exported, as the seaport of La Carbonera, on the 
gulf, is only 120 miles distant. There are 25 abandoned mines in 
this State which could be worked, under more favorable local sur- 
roundings, with great profit. 

Territorial divisions. — This State is divided into three dis- 
tricts {prefecturas), in which are thirty-four municipalities. The 
former are called the Southern, Centre and Northern. The muni- 
cipalities are Santander, Tamaulipas, Villanos, Aldama, San Anto- 
nio, Tancasnequi, Magiscatzin, Xicotencatl, Morelos, Santa Bar- 
bara, Ciudad Victoria, Tula, Jaumave, Palmillas, Bustamente, 
Miquihuana, Llerra, Guemez, Casas (Croix), Padilla, La Marina, 
Abasolia, Jimenez, Hidalgo, Villagran, San Carlos, Matamoros, 
Reinosa, Mier, Guerrero, New Laredo, San Fernando, Crucillas, 
Burgos and San Nicolas. 

Principal cities and towns. — Matamoros, one of the principal 
ports of entry of the Republic of Mexico, is situated on the west 
bank of the Rio Grande, opposite the town of Brownsville, in Texas, 
and about 30 miles from the mouth of the river. Matamoros con- 
tains about 18,000 inhabitants. During the days of the Confeder- 
acy this city had an immense trade in cotton from Texas, but at 
present its commerce is for the most part with the northern States 
of Mexico. Ciudad Victoria, the capital of the State, is a town of 
some 8,000 inhabitants, beautifully situated at the foot of a high 
mountain. It is well watered by a large clear stream, and lies in 
the midst of gardens, and fields of sugar-cane. A graveyard sur- 
rounded by a high wall, provided with port-holes, and bearing the 
marks of shot and shell, occupies a commanding position near the 
town. The only object of interest about the place is the old church, 
built by the Spaniards, but which has never been finished entirely. 
This city has been desolated for the last forty years by the civil 
wars that have been almost constantly waged in that part of Mexi- 
co. It is a desolate, dreary place, almost destitute of commercial 
life and enterprise. There is no wagon-road through the Sierra ; 
what trade and travel there is has to be carried on through the moun- 
tains over the almost impassable mule-path. The road, or rather 



71 

trail, that leads to the port of Soto la Marina, runs for the entire 
distance, 150 miles, through dense forests. This portion of the 
State of Tamaulipas is subject to heavy rain storms, called, in the 
language of the country, temporals. These storms last for several 
days, and the rainfall is so great that the v^hole country is placed 
under water, the damage done at times being ver}^ great. 

Croix, named in honor of the Marquis of Croix, is an old 
Spanish tov^rn, of which but few traces of its former importance are 
still visible. On the ruins of the villas and stately residences of its 
former inhabitants a growth of thatched hovels has sprung up. 
The town of Croix is now called Casas, it being the native town of 
Col. Casas, who was shot at Monclova for having headed the revo- 
lutionists who took San Antonio and captured the Spanish garri- 
son, in 1 81 2. The name of the town was changed to Casas after 
the Spanish were driven out, similar changes were the case with 
nearly all towns in Mexico. 

Soto la Marina was, in the time of the Spaniards, a flourishing 
little town, but it has dwindled down to an insignificant village. 
Small as it is, it presents quite a gay appearance, consisting of about 
one hundred houses, and a very pretty little church. The Corona 
River runs through the town, which is about 35 miles distant from 
the Gulf of Mexico. Sota la Marina lies midway between Mata- 
moros and Tampico, on the Gulf, and has a far better bar than 
either of these seaports. Its harbor affords to shipping complete 
immunity from the violence of the northers, by which this part of 
Mexico is visited. This port will some day become a place of great 
importance. That it is not so already is due to the great difficulty 
in crossing the mountains between it and San Luis Potosi, but as 
soon as the railroad takes the place of mule-transportation in the 
traffic and travel of Mexico, Soto la Marina will be one of the most 
important of Mexican seaports. In 1864 the trade of this port was 
carried on by a few American merchants, the principal item of ex- 
port being hides. Soto la Marina enjoys a kind of mournful 
celebrity from the circumstances of it being the place where the 
brave but unfortunate Gen. Mina and the lamented Emperor 
Iturbide landed, the former in 1817, and the latter in 1824. Both 
were shot, shortly after their landing, by their political enemies. 
The town was founded, September 3d, 1750. 

Padilla is also an old Spanish town, of which but little remain- 



J 



to be seen, except ruins. It was on the public plaza of Padilla that 
the unfortunate Iturbide, the first emperor of Mexico, was shot, in 
1824, in compliance with a decree of the Mexican Congress, which 
the rebel General Gutierrez de Lara, who was the Governor of the 
State, took great pleasure in enforcing. Gutierrez de Lara is the 
same individual who ordered the butchery of fourteen Spanish 
officers, prisoners of war, among them two governors, Herrera and 
Salcedo, at San Antonio, Texas, in the month of April, 181 3. The 
population at Padilla is estimated at 1,500 souls, and it has no com- 
merce to speak of. 

Tampico, on the Gulf of Mexico, is second only to Vera Cruz 
in importance. It is situated at the mouth of the Panuco river, 
which is navigable as high up as Altamira, a distance of eighteen 
miles from the mouth of the river. Tampico has quite a large 
trade with Europe. The population is about 12,000. It is visited 
by yellow fever annually. 

Area and population. — The area of Tamaulipas is 11,102 
square miles. According to the census taken in 1871, and published 
in the Perez Almanac of 1875, the population of Tamaulipas is set 
down at 108,788, which is rather under than over estimated. Ac- 
cording to latest statistics, it is of 1 20,000. 

Schools. — In 1865 there were within the limits of the State 
sixty primary schools, attended by 3,600 pupils, and carried on at 
an annual cost of $10,000. 

Public lands.— VvHqXxz lands can be purchased from the General 
Government at $363.34 per sitio, or league, containing 4,428 Ameri- 
can acres. Even better terms can be made with private individuals. 

According to the statistics compiled by Garcia y Cuba, the 
State of Tamaulipas contained, in 1856, 6 cities, 128 towns, 18 con- 
gregas (Indian settlements), 118 haciendas, nearly all of which 
are in ruins, and 984 ranches. 

Historical. — About the year 1720, the Indians made war on 
the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Leon, at present the State of 
Nuevo Leon. This portion of New Spain (Mexico) was so com- 
pletely overrun by hostile Indians from Tamaulipas that it became 
apparent that the only way to save Nuevo Leon was to colonize 
Tamaulipas, and by this means divert the minds of the Indians into 
other channels. In the year 1738, several Spanish gentlemen made 
application to the viceroy, and also to the court of Spain, to colo- 



73 

nize this territory, but little attention was paid to their desires until 
about the year 1747, when Don Jose Escandon, having been 
appointed Governor of the new colony, and also Vice-Regent of the 
Mexican Gulf coast, entered this territory from the south with a 
body of troops and a large number of colonists, subduing some 
Indian tribes and driving others before him. He founded missions 
and towns in all parts of the country, but as the Indians, as a 
general thing, objected to being brought under the dominion of 
the Spaniards, an immense number of them retired to the rolling 
plains of Texas, so that very soon after the colonization of Tamau- 
lipas, the State of Nuevo Leon became free from Indian invasion 
from the east. From that time on, the Indians carried on a 
frontier war, which is kept up to the present day. Until after the 
declaration of Mexican Independence, this colony was known as 
New Santander, when its name was changed to that of Tamau- 
lipas, the name of a mountain. 



THE STATE OF TLAXCALA. 

SITUATION, BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 

This State is situated between 19^ i' and ip"* 41' of north 
latitude, and the o^ 37' east longitude from the City of Mexico, 
and is bounded on the northeast, east and south by the State of 
Puebla ; on the west by the State of Mexico ; and on the northeast 
by the State of Hidalgo. 

Its territory contains an area of 221 square leagues. 

Topographical aspect. — Part of this small State presents 
fine valleys like that of Huamantla, and in others is rugged, being 
cut up by mountains and ravines. Among the curious features of 
this State, is the Sierra de la Malitzin, a high mountain that occu- 
pies an important place in the Tlaxcaltecan mythology, on account 
of its top being so shaped, by nature, as to represent a corpse lying 
in its grave and partly covered up with its shroud. At times the 
clouds, loaded with electricity, gather on the top of that mountain. 



74 

and burst with a tremendous crash ; for that reason the Tlaxcaltecs 
gave it the name of their favorite god. The sides of the mountain 
are cut up by deep ravines and rocky bluffs, covered with a 
luxurious vegetation. Part of this State is well irrigated by the 
waters of the rivers of Zahuapan and Atollac. 

Lakes. — The small lakes of Acuitlapilco ; the Rosario and 
Tonecuila, are the only ones worth mentioning. 

Natural prodiicf ions. — Grain is produced in abundance ; such 
as com, wheat, barley, oats, peas, lentils and chili-pepper. Fruits 
of all climates are also produced in abundance. 

Climate. — Is agreeable and healthy. 

Mining. — In the mountains of San Ambrosio and San Mateo : 
silver, copper, stone-coal, and lead have been found. 

Political divisions. — This State is divided into three districts, 
those of Tlaxcala, Huamantla and Tlaxco, which are subdivided 
into twenty-two municipalities. 

Populatio7i. — In 1856, it was put down at 80,171 people. 

The City of Tlaxcala, the capital of the State, has a population 
of 5,000 inhabitants, and at the time of the conquest was the capital 
of the Republic of the same name, and occupied, by its industry 
and wealth, a distinguished place in ancient Mexico, as a rival of 
the Mexican Empire. Some interesting antiquities are found in its 
neighborhood. 

Commerce. — Consists principally in exporting to other States, 
grain and hides, and some woolen manufactures, for which is 
imported in return groceries and linens. 

Census. — In 1856, this State assessed i city, 4 sanctuaries, 
112 villages, 26 neighborhoods, 150 haciendas, 153 ranches and 
16 (ventas) markets. 



THE STATE OF VERA CRUZ. 

This State is bounded on the north by the State of Tamaulipas ; 
on the east and southeast by the Gulf of Mexico ; on the east by 
the State of Tabasco ; on the southeast by the State of Chiapas ; 
on the southwest, by the State of Oaxaca ; on the west by the 



75 

States of Puebla and Hidalgo, and on the northwest by the State 
of San Luis Potosi. 

It was created a State in 1824. 

Area. — 3,501 leagues. 

Population. — 552,918 inhabitants. It possesses 620 primary- 
schools and nine colleges, attended by 24,000 scholars. 

Value of real estate : $6,202,928.91. 

Principal cities and towns. — The City of Vera Cruz, formerly 
the capital of the State, and the principal seaport of the Republic 
of Mexico, is situated on a sand beach surrounded by lagoons, 
which, on account of its burning sun, makes it very unhealthy ; yel- 
low fever reigns there the greatest portion of the year. Popula- 
tion, 20,000 souls. 

Jalapa, sumamed by all those who have seen it, the paradise 
of this continent, is situated on the side of the mountain of 
Macuiltepec, in latitude 19° 31 26" north, and 1^ 10' longitude 
east of the City of Mexico. It enjoys a fine and temperate 
climate. Its principal buildings are the old convent of San Fran- 
cisco, the church of St. Joseph, an Hospital, and substantial 
public buildings. 

Cordova, a town of some importance, surrounded by rich 
coffee plantations. 

Orizaba, a city — the principal of the district, 90 miles from Vera 
Cruz and 80 miles from Jalapa — to-day the capital of the State, is 
located in a beautiful, healthy and rich country. It has good pub- 
lic buildings. Its populations amounts to 20,000 souls. 

Natural productions. — Among them are tobacco and coffee of 
superior quality, vanilla, sugar, rice, corn. Chili pepper, all kinds of 
tropical fruits in abundance, as well as vegetables of tropi- 
cal climates ; valuable timber of great variety, also dye and gum 
woods, and many valuable medicinal plants. 

Mines. — Gold, silver, copper, iron and lead exist in this State. 
There are good smelting works at Zomelahuacan and Tenepanoya. 



76 
THE STATE OF YUCATAN. 

This State is bounded as follows : On the north by the Gulf 
of Mexico, on the east by the Caribbean Sea, on the southeast by the 
Republic of Guatemala, and on the west and northwest by the State 
of Campeche. 

Etymology of the name Yucatan. — According to some, it 
originated from the word Yucaltepen, which means a pearl or neck- 
lace ; and, according to others, from the words Nathan cubiatan 
" We don't understand what you say," (answer given by the Mayas, 
the nation of Indians that inhabited the country, when the Span- 
iards asked them what was the name of their country.) 

The Mexicans called the peninsula of Yucatan and Tabasco, 
Pais ae Onohtialco (country of Onohualco). 

Principal cities and towns. — District of Merida, 49,749 in- 
habitants. City of Merida, founded by Francisco de Montejo in 
January, 1542. Its principal buildings consist of a Government 
palace, palace of justice, city hall, jail, hospital, soldiers* quarters, 
a theatre, a public walk, a literary institute. Catholic college, medical 
school, school of pharmacy and jurisprudence, seminary, a con- 
servatory of music, public library, museum of antiquities, various 
schools, a Catholic cathedral, four parochial churches, nine other 
churches, and a population of 56,000 souls. 

In the District of Progreso, the city of the same name, founded 
in 1856. Population, 1,900 inhabitants. 

The City of Motul de Zepeda Paraza, 2,900 inhabitants, in the 
District of Motul. 

The City of Valladolid, in the district of the same name, 
founded by Francisco de Montejo, with sixty-three colonists, in 
May, 1 543, at a place called Chauachaa, and removed to its present 
site in March, 1 544. Its principal buildings consist of a city hall, 
hospital, six churches, a public walk. Its population numbers 
3,000 souls. 

The City of Tical, in the district of the same name, has good 
public buildings and a population of 6,000 souls. 

The City of Ixamal, in the district of the same name, has also 
good public buildings. Its population numbers 4,797 inhabitants. 

There are many other towns of importance. 

The total population of this State amounts to 422,365 inhabi- 



77 

tants, who reside in 7 cities, 13 towns, 152 villages, 1,136 haciendas 
or estates, 363 ranches, and 831 farms. 

Natural productions. — Corn, rice, beans, a great variety of 
fruits and roots, all kinds of vegetables. Among those of more im- 
portance are the anil, tobacco of superior quality, coffee, cotton, 
vanilla, various gums and dye-woods. 

Industry. — In this State it consists principally in the manu- 
facture of sugar, in the working of a variety of the palmetto that 
produce a fibre called hennequen, in the exportation of logwood 
which is carried on in a large scale. It also produces a large quan- 
tity of wax. 



THE STATE OF ZACATECAS, 

This State is situated between the 21^ 2' and 24° 29' north 
latitude, and i ° 46' and 4° 54' longitude, west of tlie City of Mexico. 
It is bounded on the north by the State of Coahuila, on the east by 
the State of San Luis Potosi, on the southeast by the State of 
Guanajuato, on the south by the State of Jalisco, and on the west 
and east by the States of Jalisco and Durango. 

Its area contains 6,270 square leagues. 

Population. — 4/0,000 inhabitants. 

Configuratio7t, topographical aspect, and climate. — The in- 
terior of this State is rough and mountainous to its western bound- 
ary, and presents a succession of plains cut by mountain chains in 
its eastern portion, among which are found rich valleys. 

The temperature is cold in the mountains and pleasant in the 
valleys. 

Mountains. — This State, as all mineral countries, is rather 
mountainous. Its principal chains are those of Mazapil, Norillos, 
Guadaloupe, Mesa del Fraile, Palomas Pinos, Monte de Garcia, 
Concepcion del Oro, Matehuapil, etc. 

Natural productions. — Among the timber : mountain cedar, 
oaks of various kinds, elm, millons, cotton-wood, ash, and many 
others. Excellent fruits : among them, pears, apples, peaches, apri- 
cots, grapes, etc. All kinds of vegetables, corn and wheat. Cattle, 
horses, mules, sheep and goats thrive w^ell in this State. 



78 

Minerals. — This State ranks among the first in the Republic. 
The most noted districts are those of Bolanos, Carcamo, Cedros, 
Chalchihuites, Fresnillo, Mazapil, Noria, Nieves, Sombrerete, San 
Juan de Guadaloupe, Sierra Hermosa, Pinos, Rio Grande, Teul, 
Pico de Freire, Zacatecas, Matehuapil, Concepcion del Oro and 
others. 

Principal cities and towns. — Zacatecas, capital of the State, 
is situated in latitude 22^ 46' 3" north, and 1^ 47' 39" longitude, 
west of Mexico, at an altitude of 7,500 feet above the level of the 
gulf. This mining district was discovered by Captain Juan de To- 
losa on the 8th of September, 1 546. Philip the Second granted it 
the title of city in April, 1 585. This city is built in a ravine situated 
in the middle of a mountain. Its streets are very irregular. Among 
its principal edifices are the Government palace, city hall, markets, 
hospital, jail, mint, soldiers' quarters, a theatre, a public walk, a 
cathedral and fourteen churches, an amphitheatre for bull-fighting, 
and thirteen squares. Population, 62,000 inhabitants. 

City of Fresnillo, mining district discovered m 1 569, possesses a 
city hall, jail, a handsome theatre, a parochial church, market and 
well-adorned squares. Population, 15,000 souls. 

City of Sombrerete, mining distnct discovered by Juan de To- 
losa in 1555, obtained the title of city in 1570 under the name of 
Town of St. John the Baptist of Yllerera, city with the name of 
Herrera, in 1824, which name was not maintained. Has a city 
hall, a hospital in ruin, various churches, thirteen chapels, and a 
population of 5,173 inhabitants. 

City of Nieves, also a mining district discovered in 1559, 1,500 
inhabitants. 

City of Garcia, founded in 1531, under the name of St. John 
of Gahcia. In 1572, the name of Jerez de la Frontera was given to 
the place on account of its being the residence of the military chiefs 
sent by the Viceroy of New Spain to prevent the invasion of the 
interior by the Nayarit Indians. Its present name was given it in 
1856. Population, 7,255 inhabitants. 

City of Villanueva was founded on the 7th of November, 1691, 
under the name of Gutierrez del Aguila. Has good public buildings. 
Population, 6,065 inhabitants. 

City of Sanchez Roman created with its present name in i860. 
Its Indian name was Tlalli (land) or Tenamitl (wall). Mazapil, 



discovered in 1582, is a rich mineral district, with public buildings. 
Its Indian name was Mazatl (deer), and {pzllz) small. 

Albaradon and Guatemapile have rich mines in their vicinity. 
Population, 1,780 souls. 

The State of Zacatecas has 7 cities, 14 towns, 33 villages, 4 In- 
dian villages, 18 mining districts, 120 haciendas or estates, and 1,068 
ranches or farms. 



THE TERRITORY OF LOWER CALIFORNIA. 

SITUATION, BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 

Lower California is situated between the 22'' 53' and 32° 42' 30" 
of latitude north, and the lo*' 12' and 18^ longitude west from the 
City of Mexico. Its greatest length is 240 leagues, and its mean 
width 32 leagues. It is bounded on the north by Upper California, 
now a State of the United States of America ; on the east by the 
Sea of Cortez or Gulf of California ; and on the west and south by 
the Pacific Ocean. It contains an area of 8,000 square leagues. 

Topographical aspect and climate. — The peninsula of Lower 
California is properly a chain of mountains bathed by the sea, 
although in the centre there is a small interception, which forms 
the two great divisions of the Territory. The country is broken, 
its plains barren, and the landscape disagreeable and unpleasant to 
the eye. 

The climate is temperate in its northern portion and extremely 
warm in the south. 

Islands. — The principals are those of the Guardian Angel 
(Angelo de Guardia), which is over 60 miles long, and of Salsi- 
puedes and del Carmen. 

Capes. — In the Gulf of California, those of San Gabriel, south 
of the islands of Las Animas ; Cape Virgenes, Cape San Marcos, 
on the same parallel of latitude as the port of Mazatlan, and Cape 
Porfia. San Jos6 and San Lucas on the Ocean ; Cape Falso and 
other few smaller ones. 

Bays. — The principal ones in the Gulf of California are those 
of San Luis Gonzaga, Los Angeles and Muluge ; and on the 



80 

Ocean those of San Barnab^, Santa Maria, Almejas and La 
Magdalena, of some importance as a rendezvous for whalers. 

For^s.— The principal ones are those of Loreto, formerly capital 
of the Territory ; Escondida, Pichilingue, and on the Ocean that 
of San Bartolom6, situated on the 27^ 45' north latitude. 

Natitral productions. — They are but few, for the want of 
streams, the scarcity of rains and the barrenness of the soil. Some 
few fruits are produced, sugar-cane, olives, corn and grapes do very 
well. 

But little stock is raised in the Territory. 

Mining. — It is supposed that mining would pay well if it was 
developed properly. The mines of Flores, Santa Ana, Vallc Per- 
dido, San Antonio, Mulege and La Guella were at one time worked 
with great profit. The untold wealth of mines in this Territor)^ is 
equal to that of any of the Mexican States. 

La Paz, capital of the Territory, is situated in latitude 
24° 6' 40" north, and the 11^ i' 15" west longitude from the City 
of Mexico. Population, 4,000 souls and increasing. 

The whole population of the Territory, in 1862, was set down at 
12,000 people, but according to later statistics the population is 
now 21,645 inhabitants. 



THE FEDERAL DISTRICT OF MEXICO. 

Limits. — The Federal District of Mexico extends northward to 
the town of San Cristobal Ecatepec, westward to the town of Re- 
medios, southward to the town of San.Augustin de ias Cuevas or 
Tlalpan, and eastward to El Pinon Viejo. 

Area. — 50 square leagues. 

Population. — 31 5,906 inhabitants. 

Political divisions. — The Federal district is divided into four 
sub-districts, viz.: Guadaloupe Hidalgo, Tacubaya, Tlalpan, 
Xochimilco. 

The total value of real estate in the district is set down at 
$51,650,464. The expenditures of the municipality of the City of 
Mexico amounts yearly to the sum of $856,000. 



81 



THE CITY OF MEXICO. 

The City of Mexico, capital of the RepubHc, seat of the Arch- 
bishopric of the same name, and one of the finest cities of the New 
World, is situated in 19*' 25' 45" north latitude, and loi" 25' 30" 
west longitude, from the City of Paris, France, at an elevation of 7, 108 
feet above the level of the sea. Its site is in the centre of an oval- 
shaped valley about forty-seven miles long by thirty-two miles wide. 
It enjoys a healthy, temperate climate ; the temperature of the 
city averaging 17^ Reaumur; the atmospheric pressure being 
^g^mm^ The winds that prevail are from north and northwest. 
The longest day in the year has 13 hours 10 minutes, and the 
shortest 10 hours and 50 minutes. 

The vegetation in the valley, as in the mountains that surround 
it, is noted for its vigorous growth and its endless variety. The 
winter is hardly felt. Thus it will be seen that the environs of the 
city are charming in the extreme, and well deserve to be visited. 

" The soil of the valley," says the Count de la Cortina, " is 
composed of debris of modern alluvial soil, with beds of calcareous 
sweet-water, and other living-beds covered with humus or vegetable 
soil." In some places saline efilorescence predominates with an 
occasional covering of sand. At about three miles from the city in 
a northwest direction, springs of naptha or fluid bitumen are found 
and eight miles north are found good thermal springs. 

Mexico, according to the most reliable data, was founded by 
the Aztecs, on the i8th of July, 1327. Its origin, like Rome, has 
a curious tradition. 

It appears that after a vagabond life, which lasted about fifty 
years, the Aztecs came in contact with the Alcohuas, who, being 
pursued by them, started for the lagoons, which in those days cov- 
ered most of the valley. Among the Aztecs w^as an oracle, who, in 
one cf his answers, had said to them that they should not found 
their city until they came to a place where they would find an eagle 
standing on a rock. The Aztec nation, led by the priest, reached 
the margin of the lagoon, they undertook to find and select the most 
convenient place for their city. Going ahead they explored the 
banks and canebrake about the lagoon so well that they soon came 
across the headland, upon which stood the Tenuchtli, or the real 



83 

ization of the oracle's promise. Here you have the origin of the 
coat-of-arms of the Mexican Republic. 

The Aztec nation, being then convinced that they had reached 
their promised land, commenced building their cabins around the 
Tenuchtli, making artificial soil by means of vines and drift. In 
this manner the city was raised out of the waters of the lagoon. 

The life the Aztecs led at first was a poor and miserable one. 
Their city, which they called Tenochitlan, or the city of the " cac- 
tus upon a rock," which, in a long course of years, was changed 
into " Mexico," which means fountain or flowing water ; although it 
is more probable that it was named after an idol that the first set- 
tlers brought with them and named Mexitly. 

At the time of the conquest it had a population of over three 
hundred thousand souls ; but when it surrendered to Cortez, on the 
13th of August, 1 521, it was nothing but a heap of ruins and ashes, 
and the fine edifices and temples which had succeeded the first huts 
of the Aztecs were all destroyed. 

The population of the city, at the present, can well be estimated 
at over two hundred and twenty-five thousand people. 

Buildings and institutions. — In 1865 the city boasted of 482 
streets, all at right angles, and not less than fourteen varas or forty 
feet wide, and of sixty squares. 

The city has fourteen curacies or parish churches, fifteen mon- 
asteries for men, and twenty-two female convents, which were 
seized and sold by the Juarez Government ; also, sixty-eight churches 
or chapels, six pantheons or vault cemeteries to bury the dead, three 
principal public walks, three first-class theatres and many small 
ones, two amphitheatre:; for bull-fighting, ten hospitals, three public 
libraries, and other important establishments. 

La Fuente del Salto del Agua, or the " spouting fountain," 
terminates the aqueduct at Bclen, which brings to the city its water 
from the spring at the foot of the Chapultepec hill. It was begun 
by the Viceroy Fray Antonio de Bucarelli, and completed on the 
20th of May, 1779. 

La Fuente de la Tlaxpana (the Tlaxpana Fountain) on the 
Avenue of San Cosme, bears two inscriptions by the side of 
the coat-of-arms of the liouse of Austria, stating that it was con- 
structed in 1737, when Don Juan Antonio Bizarron y Equiarreta 
was archbishop and viceroy of New Spain. It belongs to a peculiar 



83 

style of architecture, known as that of Churiguera. To reach this 
fountain you cross El Peunte de Alvarado (Alvarado's bridge), 
which nov/ is a handsome street. A stone yet marks the place 
that became celebrated for the prodigious leap made by 
Alvarado when Cortcz retreated from Mexico. A little further on, 
following the straight road, the little village of Popotla is reached, 
where, on the left side of the road, in a little enclosure near an old 
chapel, is found the venerable AJiuahuete tree, the same under 
which Cortez sat and cried over his disaster on the night of the 22d 
of August, 1 521, which is called by the Spaniards the " noche 
irisie" or sorrowful night. 

La Flazuela de Santo Domingo. — The small square of St. 
Dominick, one of the smallest in the city, forms a quadrilateral, 
having a portico on the west, the church of Santo Domingo on the 
north, the Custom-house block on the cact, a portion of a block and 
a street on the south. In the angle between the Custom-house and 
the church is the building of the ex-Inquisition. The Convent of 
Santo Domingo was at one time one of the most famous and 
wealthiest convents in the city. It has been rumored that a treas- 
ure of some twelve millions v/as buried v.'ithin its walls. Many 
searches have been made for it ; even a company was formed at one 
time to raise the neccesary capital to hunt up the treasure, but up 
to this day it has failed. The building of the ex-Inquisition is used 
as a medical college. 

Iturbide Market (Ancient Square of St. John). — Its comer- 
stone was laid by the President of the Republic, Don Jose Joaquin 
de Herrera, on Sunday, the 15th day of May, 1849. Den Enrique 
Gri{ion,w. i its architect. This edifice is one hundred feet front and 
sixty deep. It has one hundred and eight stalls or shops inside and 
outside, most of them occupied by butchers and porkmen. It has 
a fountain in the centre and six entrances, two cast and two west, 
and one north and south. 

La Plazuela de Guardiola. —It is a small square enclosed on 
the east by the old residence of the Condes del Valle, on the west 
by a portion of San Isabel Street, on the south by the residence of 
Mr. Escandon, one of the wealthiest citizens of the city and first 
promoter of the construction of railroads in Mexico, and on the 
south by the walls of the chapel of our " Lord of Burgos," which 
belongs to the great convent of San Francisco. This square was 



84 

named after the Marquis of Guardiola, who built his residence there, 
which is now the property of Mr. Escandon. In olden times the 
waters of the lagoon came as far as this place. It is reported that 
Chirino, who had revolted against Cortez, while absent on his 
expedition to Yucatan, was exposed in an iron cage on this square. 
On this square is a hack station. 

El Sagrario. — This beautiful church (the name signifying the 
place where sacred relics are kept) is adjoining the cathedral, and 
was the first parochial church built in the City of Mexico after its 
conquest by Cortez. It is said that the Franciscan friars were the 
founders of the parish church, which is at present the cathedral, in 
1524, and Don Pedro de Villagran was the first parish priest of 
Mexico. The Sagrario was burned, and was rebuilt by Don Fran- 
cisco Antonio Lorenzana, archbishop of Mexico in 1767. The 
style of its architecture is one which is contemporary with the 
reign of Louis XV. in France ; it was in its apogee in Spain at the 
end of the seventeenth and the beginning of the eighteenth cen- 
turies, and is considered by competent judges of architecture to be 
a style of decline ; it was named after the Spaniard who invented 
it, " Churiguera," leaving out the defects that are proper to a style 
that has laid aside all known rules applicable to the different orders 
of architecture, the front of the Sagrario will captivate the attention 
of the traveler by the neatness and perfection of its mouldings, 
for the boldness of its columns, and the masterly finish in its 
smallest details. 

Palacio Mumcipal (City Hall). — It is also called Deputacion 
(Deputation), Casa de Cabildo (corporation or chapter house). The 
present building was finished in 1792 at a cost of $130,000 ; it has 
91 varas, or over 252 feet, front on the main plaza of Mexico, and 
122 feet deep, occupying an area of 4,004 square varas. Besides 
the city and district offices, the building contains the corporation 
jail, some apartments rented to private individuals, and the Longa 
or Merchants' Exchange, which is as fine as any in the world. The 
first municipal house was burned by a mob, together with the vice- 
roy's palace and other buildings, in the year 1692, while the Count 
de Galve was viceroy, and a part of the city was also sacked by 
the mob. 

Iturbzde Hotel, or Stage Hotel. — This house was occupied by 
Don Augustine de Iturbide, Emperor of Mexico, and is known as 



85 

*• La Casa del Emperador Iturbide." It was built by the Count de 
Moncada, Marquis of El Jaral, one of the richest men in Mexico, as 
a private residence. It is used to-day as a hotel, where first-class 
accommodations can be had. 

Theati'o Nacioiial (National Theatre). — The comer-stone of 
this edifice was laid by General Santa Anna, on the 8th of Febru- 
ary, 1842; it was, in consequence of this, called "Santa Anna 
Theatre." It is second to none in America ; it can accommodate 
an audience of three thousand persons. It was built by Don Fran- 
cisco Arbue, an enterprising Mexican, on the site occupied by 
houses Nos. 1 1 and 1 2 of Bergara Street. 

Plaza Mayor, or Main Square, also called Military Square. 
On the east side of it is the National Palace, where the President of 
the Republic resides, and where most all the Government offices are 
located. It is a huge mass of stone without any architectural 
significance ; it covers all the east side of the square, and has three 
entrances fronting on the same. Its front extends 675 feet. It 
was originally the property of the family of Cortez, but was subse- 
quently purchased by the Spanish Government for its viceroys for 
$33>30o; not being large enough, it was rebuilt in 1693. The Ca- 
thedral and Sagrario occupy the north side of the square. The 
Municipal House and Merchants' Portico form the other two sides of 
the square ; it is well paved and surrounded by spacious sidewalks. 

The Cathedral of Mexico. — It would take a book to describe 
that fine monument ; we can only afford to give a brief sketch of 
it. The edifice stands on the side of the main square, and is 
built on the same spot where stood the temple dedicated to the 
Aztec god " Huitzilspotchli," tutelar god of the nation. It was 
begun in 1573, by order of King Philip II., Don Pedro Moya de 
Contreras being archbishop, and was completed in 1657, under the 
government of Don Fray Marcos Ramirez de Prado, 94 years after 
its corner-stone had been laid, at a cost of $1,752,000, which sum 
was paid by Philip II., Philip III., Philip IV. and Charles II. (sur- 
named the bewitched). This building is about 432 feet long from 
north to south, and about 203 feet wide from east to west, without 
counting the space which is situated between its porch and the 
level of the square, about 140 feet, which is surrounded on the 
south, east and west by 1 24 columns over 5 feet high, to which are 
fastened heavy iron chains ; about 1 5 feet from the chains are 'jy 



86 

ash-trees equally distant from the columns, and in a parallel line 
with them ; these constitute one of the finest walks in the city, and 
is known as the Paseo de las cadenas ; it is particularly attrac- 
tive by moonlight. 

The entrance to the prebendary {canonigos) is situated on the 
east, surrounded by a fine iron-raiHng ; the principal front of the 
building, which faces south, has three entrances, composed of two 
styles of architecture — the first Doric, and the second Ionic, with 
statues in bas-relief. 

Its two towers are 72 varas, or 200 feet, in height, and cost 
$199,000. 

Between the two towers, and above the main-entrance, is a 
beautiful clock, with a face of gilt metal, above which are three 
statues representing the three theological virtues, artistically exe- 
cuted. In the two towers are forty-eight bells ; those worthy of 
notice are : ist, Santa Maria de Guadaloupe (Holy Mary of Guada- 
loupe), which is 36 feet in height ; 2d, that of " Dona Maria," 
which weighs 15,000 pounds ; and 3d, called " Saint Angel," weighs 
14,000 pounds. 

Besides the entrances already mentioned, the cathedral has 
three more, two of which are situated on the north of the building, 
on one side of which is the chapel of Las Animas (the Souls), 
where the remains of the clergy are deposited. 

The cupola and lantern, which in height is nearly on a level 
with the towers, show elaborate and tasteful art. 

The interior of the edifice belongs to the Doric order ; has 
beautiful and elevated arches, five naves, two closed and three 
opened, the latter with fourteen pillars with columns on each of its 
sides ; from the pilasters start the arches to meet others before it, 
and on the sides of the two lateral naves are located fourteen 
chapels, all enclosed with balustrades of iron and carved-wood, be- 
sides the six chapels named as follows : ist, De los Reyes (of 
the Kings), where are buried the viceroys ; 2d, Las Animas (the 
Souls) ; 3d, Del Buen Despacho (of the Good Resolution) ; 4th, 
San Jose (St. Joseph) ; 5th, San Lorenzo (St. Lawrence) ; and 6th, 
the El Pardon (the Pardon). In the latter a mass is said every 
half hour every day during the year. 

Between the vaults and other space of the temple are 147 
windows, and in the cupola and lantern already mentioned, which 



87 

shape is octogonal, is a fresco painting representing the Assumption 
of our Lady, executed by the distinguished Spanish painter, Jimeno. 

The presbyterium, where stands the main altar, which is 
situated in the middle of the church, between the choir and the 
altar of the kings, to which one ascends by a flight of wide steps ; 
the four fronts of the altar is surrounded by a balustrade of metal 
called tinnbaga, which extends in a straight line on either side 
until it reaches the choir ; this balustrade is ornamented with sixty- 
two statues, who hold a chandelier of the same metal in one 
hand. 

The cypress over the main altar is sustained by eight columns, 
covered with stucco, in which are located the magnificent statues 
of the apostles, evangelists and principal saints, all of natural size ; 
above the second order of architecture is a group of angels, above 
which is the mother of our Redeemer; all, formerly, were covered 
with precious stones, etc. Its treasure, at one time, was enu- 
merated as follows : 20 chalices of gold ; 6 vessels of gold, in which 
wine and water are served for mass ; 132 rubies ; 1,676 diamonds, 
with 13 marcs of gold ; i chalice, with 122 diamonds ; 143 emeralds, 
with 107 marcs of gold ; 2 gold vessels for incense ; a silver image 
of the Conception, weighing 28 marcs (a marc, eight ounces) ; the 
principal reliquary, which is ornamented with 2,651 emeralds ; 44 
rubies, 8 saphires and many more treasures too long to enumerate. 
Most of the jewels were presents from the Emperor Charles V. 

Theatro Iturbide (Iturbide Theatre). — It was designed by 
the distinguished Mexican architect Don Santiago Mendez, who 
also constructed it. It cost $180,000, and was opened on the 3d of 
February, 1856, with a brilliant masquerade ball. It is very richly 
ornamented inside with red velvet and gold, and is one of the finest 
halls in America. 

El Paseo de Bucareli (the Walk of Buccareli). — This is one of 
the most fashionable promenades in the City of Mexico. Leaving the 
main-scuare ana riding up the streets of Plateros and San Fran- 
cisco, passing the house of Iturbide on his left, then the square of 
Guardiola to his right, the convent of San Francisco to the left, and 
the beautiful Alameda or public garden to his right, the old prison 
of the " Acordada " to his left, the promenader reaches the Paseo 
Nuevo, a beautiful ride planted with trees, and spacious sidewalks; 
the magnificent statue of Charles IV. is passed ; it was designed 



and moulded by Don Manuel Tolsa, and was placed on its pedestal 
in 1803. From four o'clock in the afternoon mounted police are 
placed on guard from the Acordada prison to the end of the paseOy 
from distance to distance, in order to preserve order among the 
numerous files of carriages circulating. 

The College of Mzties. — This grand edifice was planned and 
built by Don Manuel Tolsa, and was completed April 3, 181 3, at a 
cost of $1,500,000. The front of the building faces north on 
St. Andrew Street ; it has 298 feet front ; one of the sides of the 
edifice faces east on the alley of Bethemite, and has 344 feet front ; 
the other, west, on the alley of the Countess, and has 2,123^ 
feet ; the edifice occupies an area of 10,835 square varas (nearly 
two American acres) ; the lower floor has 7 court-yards, 5 foun- 
tains, 5 stairways and 76 rooms. The floor between the ground- 
floor and first-floor has i fountain, 4 stairways and 75 rooms. The 
first story has 3 fountains, 2 stairways, 83 rooms. The terraces : 
2 fountains, 2 stairways and 5 rooms, making a total of 7 court- 
yards, II fountains, 13 stairways and 238 rooms. Its organization 
as a high-school leaves nothing to be desired, and well deserves 
the visit of the traveler. 

El Paseo de la Viga. — It is situated on the bank of the canal 
of the same name, and is a beautiful walk, well planted with trees. 
This canal unites the two large lakes of the valley of Mexico. At 
times the canal and the walk presents one of the most picturesque 
sights that one can imagine ,; the little boats in which the Indians 
bring to market their great variety of fruits and flowers, their game, 
poultry and fish, the great variety of their costumes, and particu- 
larly those of the women, who always dress in bright colors, give 
this place a curious appearance to the traveler. It is a busy place 
on market days , this is really the people's walk, while the Paseo de 
Bucareli is the aristocratic walk and drive. 

, The Street of Roldaft Bridge. — At this bridge is the real 
landing for boats going up or down the canal, and at this point a 
disagreeable smell, caused by the stirring of the turbid water of the 
canal, the fruits and garbage that is thrown into it, takes away a 
great deal of the charm that the place would otherwise have. But 
no one visiting the City of Mexico should fail to see it. 

Environs. — The hall, castle, stately trees and spring of Cha- 
pultepec. 



89 

The beautiful hills, town and gardens of Tacubaya. 

The town of San Angel. 

The town of San Augustin de las Cuevas ; it was, before the 
conquest, a very important city, known as Tlalpan, which meant 
upland, and communicated with the city by means of causeways. 
It became celebrated on account of a gambling fair that used to be 
held there yearly. 

The town of Ixtacalco, situate on the bank of the canal de 
la Viga. 

The town of Guadaloupe, situate one league north of the 
capital, on the border of the lake of Texcoco ; in this town is 
situated the holy sanctuary of Guadaloupe, a beautiful and richly 
adorned church, which was built to commemorate the apparition of 
the Holy Virgin Mary to the poor Indian Juan Diego, from the 9th 
to the 1 2th of December, 1531. 

The Theatro Principal, the Academy of San Carlos, the Na- 
tional Museum, the Military School of Tacubaya, should all be 
visited. 

In the yard of the Academy of San Carlos can be seen the 
great sacrifice-stone upon w^hich the Aztecs, in the practice of their 
inhuman religion, sacrificed their prisoners, and part of the people 
of both sexes designated for that purpose by the priest. 

The great Indian calendar is to be seen on the west wall of 
the cathedral, where it cannot fail to attract the attention of the 
traveler. 

A curiosity of the Lake of Texcoco is a white-fish with legs 
and feet. 

Public instruction in the City. — There are in the City of 
Mexico the following high-schools : 

A national second grade school for girls, kept in the old convent 
of Encarnacion. 

A preparatory national school, kept in the old college of San 
Idelfonso. 

A national school of jurisprudence, in Encarnacion Street, 

A national school of medicine, in the old edifice of the In- 
quisition. 

A national school of agriculture, in the hacienda of San 
Jacinto in Popotla, a suburb of the city. 

A national school of engineers, in the College of Mines. 



90 

A national school of fine arts, situated in Academy Street. 

A national civil service and commercial school, in the old 
hospital of Terceros. 

A national school of arts and trades, kept in the ex-convent of 
San Lorenzo. 

A national school for deaf and dumb, in the old convent of 
Corpus Christi. 

The National Museum is situated in the old mint building-. 

The National Library is situated in the ex-convent of San 
Augustin. 

All of these high-schools or academies are interesting to the 
scientist ; they are perfect in their organization. Their libraries 
are interesting and can be consulted with profit. As much has 
been done in the City of Mexico to teach the highest branches of 
science as in any other large city of the world. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE SANCTUARY OF THE HOLY VIRGIN OF 
GUADALOUPE, PATRONESS OF MEXICO. 

El Santuario de Guadaloupe. — Two fine causeways and a 
railroad, the first constructed in the Republic by Mr. Escandon, 
lead from the City of Mexico to the town of Guadaloupe, distant a 
little less than three miles from the City, on the border of lake 
Texcoco. 

Here is situated the sanctuaiy of Guadaloupe, cf which it may 
by said that there are fev/ in the world as celebrated with the Catholics 
as this one, especially in the Republic of Mexico, where it is the 
symbol of religion and independence. 

Tradition. — The tradition is simple and practical, and the 
participants of humble origin. Juan Diego was an Indian from the 
village of Cuautitlan — who had but recently been converted to the 
Catholic faith — of good conduct and behavior; his family consisted 
of his wife, Maria Lucia, and an uncle named Bernardino. Juan 
Diego earned his living by working in the town of Tolpetlac, from 
which place he was accustomed to often visit the village of Santiago 
Thaltilolco to hear the Franciscans that had charge of the parish 
preach the Catholic doctrine. In one of his trips, while crossing 
the ridge of brushy mountains that rise in that portion of the 



91 

valley on the border of a lake which the Indians called Tepetlyecae- 
zcl, and the Spaniards pronounced Tepeyacac, which means " Nose 
of the Mountain " (a very appropriate name for it), Juan Diego 
heard soft and harmonious music, such as he had never heard 
among his people or among the Spaniards. He stopped to observe 
whence came these harmonious sounds, and then saw a rain-bow of 
very bright colors, and in the centre a white and transparent cloud 
in the middle of which appeared the figure of a beautifully formed 
woman, dressed as the Indians of noble caste were dressed in those 
days. Juan Diego approached her without fear, and then the lady 
told him that she was the Mother of God, that she desired that a 
temple should be erected in that locality, and that she would devote 
herself and give aid and protection to all those that would have 
faith and would call upon her in distress. At the same time she 
told Juan Diego that he should without delay report to the bishop 
what he had seen and heard. The Indian accordingly went to 
the residence of Don Fray Juan de Zumarraga, of the order of 
San Francisco, who was then bishop of Mexico, and although he 
found much difficulty in gaining admittance, he was fortunate 
enough to speak to the prelate, and related what had happened to 
him, but did not receive a satisfactory answer, because the bishop 
beheved that it was only the imaginary vision of an Indian who had 
but recently joined the Catholic faith and abandoned the worship 
of his idols. 

Juan Diego returned to his home very disconsolate, but the 
Holy Virgin again appeared to him three times. The fifth time, 
Juan Diego, much depressed in spirits, — owing to the many re- 
pulses he had met with at the hands of the archbishop, — and his 
uncle, Juan Bernardino, being seriously ill, he concluded that he had 
better procure his uncle a confessor who might save him more 
surely than anything else ; but in order not to meet again the 
apparition, he took a different road than the one which he used 
to travel. However, all this was in vain, because at the place where 
now is a thermal spring, held in respect by the sick and by all 
people, the Virgin met him and told him that his uncle was then 
perfectly well, or in other words that he had recovered from all his 
sufferings ; and the Virgin also ordered him to go on the top of 
the hill, — the same one already mentioned as the " Nose of the 
Mountain," on the border of lake Texcoco, — and gather beautiful 



93 

flowers which he was to take to the bishop in proof of the truth of 
what has just been related. 

In these hills, where nothing grows but chapparal, and where 
no flowers are ever seen, still Juan Diego found a great many beau- 
tiful and fragrant flowers ; which he gathered in his cloak {tzhttd) 
and went to Mexico to take them to the bishop, who having heard 
that the Indian was bringing the proof he had called upon him to 
produce, received him in his parlor with much curiosity, and 
accompanied by many priests and friends. 

The Indian, in a very modest way, related to the bishop what 
had taken place, then dropping the flowers he had in his cloak 
{tilmd), the bishop and his followers dropped on their knees before 
the image of the Virgin that appeared painted on the cloak or 
ay ate of the happy and fortunate Juan Diego. 

This took place from the 9th to the 12th of December, 1531, 
nineteen years and four months after the conquest, Clement XII. 
being pope, and the Emperor Charles V. being king of Spain. 

The above is the religious tradition, transmitted from father to 
son in regard to the Virgin which is venerated in the Sanctuary. 

As soon as the Bishop Zumarraga recovered from his great 
emotion and admiration caused by the beautiful and rich flowers and 
by the sight of the singular image of the Virgin that appeared to 
him on the cloak of the Indian, he complimented Juan Diego and 
sent for his uncle, Juan Bernardino, who sure enough was found 
well and cured of all his infirmities, as the Virgin had announced 
to the poor Indian, Juan Diego. The bishop, accompanied by 
many priests and persons of notability, together with Juan Diego, 
visited all the places where the Virgin had appeared to him. While 
visiting these places, they kissed and prayed over them with great 
devotion and then returned to the episcopal palace, which in those 
days was situated on the site of the present street of Donceles, 
and there temporarily deposited the image of the Virgin, which 
a few days afterwards was transferred to the Cathedral. A short 
time afterwards, the building of an hermitage was begun on the 
hill of Tepeyacac at the expense of Bishop Zumarraga, and the 
following year, 1533, the image was removed to the hermitage 
amid a solemn procession made for that purpose. 

Juan Diego built himself a little home adjoining the temple, 
and entirely dedicated himself to the worship of the Virgin for 



93 

seventeen years after the miracle, and died in 1548, at the age 
of seventy-four. His uncle, Juan Bernardino, died of yellow fever 
{cocolzxlz) in the year 1544, being eighty-six years of age, and was 
buried in the old chapel of the Virgin. 

For ninety years the Virgin remained in this temple, which was 
rather small and of poor architecture, but among the good Catholics 
of Mexico the devotion to the Virgin of Guadaloupe had, by this 
time, increased so much, that many contributions were made and 
the beautiful cathedral which now adorns the town of Guadaloupe 
was begun, the comer stone of which was laid about the middle 
of November, 1622, by the most illustrious Lord Don Juan de la 
Ssrna, archbishop of Mexico. The building alone of the cathedral 
cost the large sum of $800,000, not including a tabernacle of silver, 
a present from the Viceroy Count of Salvatierra, and sixty lamps of 
silver which were hung in the vaults of the temple. 

The worshippers became so liberal that with their gifts and the 
amounts they subscribed, many rich ornaments were purchased, 
some of them more valuable than those owned by the Cathedral of 
Mexico. The ornaments and articles used for services in this great 
Church were of silver, and valued at five thousand marcs. 

The chapel called Del Cerrito, which is built on the spot where 
the Virgin first appeared to Juan Diego, was constructed one hun- 
dred years later at the expense of Don Cristobal de Aguirre, 
and his wife Dona Teresa Peligrina. The causeway, built of rock, 
was cc«istructed at the expense of Don Fray Payo de Rivera, arch- 
bishop and first viceroy of Mexico, as well as the aqueduct and 
fountain which is located in the square of the town. 

For many years this temple was placed under the care of four 
or six priests, but in 1750, Don Manuel Jose de Rubio y Salinas 
being archbishop, it was transformed into an abbey, and the abbot 
and canons took possession of the abbey. About that time Pope 
Benedict IV. conceded to the church a special mass and prayer. 

In 175 1, an enquir)' was held, at the demand of Dr. Don 
Francisco de Soles, and judicial proceedings were instituted to 
prove the apparition of the Virgin. 

The Spaniards called the place Tepeatilla, and here were de- 
posited all the treasurers of Gonzalo de Sandoval during the bloody 
battles that preceded the storming of Mexico. 

The Virgin of Guadaloupe was stamped upon a cloth made of 



94 

the fibers of indigenous plants, manufactured by the Indians, " sons 
of the soil " {hijos del pais). She appears clothed with a loose 
woolen gown falling from her neck to her feet, a mantle covering her 
head, the same as worn by the noble Aztec maidens ; her color is 
dark brown, her hair black and loose, her physiognomy is amiable, 
candid and modest. She appeared to an Indian in a place cele- 
brated among the Indians, all of which is entirely natural and charac- 
teristic of the country which had but just been conquered. The 
Virgin was called the Creole Virgin, and the poor race which had 
just been vanquished and humiliated, after having seen its fields 
destroyed, its cities and homes burned, and its blood run into 
streams, found itself with a divine being to whom they might appeal 
from the cruelties and injustice of humanity. After fire and sword, 
came the sweet and pacific conquest of religion. 

When the old curate of Dolores, Don Miguel Hidalgo, raised 
the first cry in favor of Mexican independence on the night of 
September i6th, 1810, he caused a flag to be raised upon which was 
painted an image of the Virgin of Guadaloupe. After the Mexican 
independence was gained, the village where the temple of Guada- 
loupe is situated was raised to the rank of ciudad or city. Under 
the name of " Ciudad de Guadaloupe de Hidalgo," a name which 
causes every Mexican to remember the civil and religious history 
of which we have just given a sketch. 

In October, 1821, the Emperor Iturbide instituted the order of 
Guadaloupe, which became extinguished after the overthrow of his 
Empire and the republican foi-m of government established. This 
order given as a reward to civil and military merit was reestablished 
by General Santa Anna on the 19th of December, 1853. 

Guadaloupe also brings to recollection one of the greatest 
events that took place on this continent. It was in that city that 
the celebrated treaty of peace, that put an end to the war between 
the United States and Mexico, was signed on the 2d day of Febru- 
ary, 1848. Messrs. Licenciado Don Bernardo Couto, Licenciado 
Don Miguel Atristani and Don Luis G. Cuevas being plenipoten- 
tiaries on the part of Mexico, and Mr. Nicolas P. Trist on the part 
of the United States of America. 

The city has improved a great deal of late years. The principal 
income of the Cathedral, which is actually one of the finest churches 
on this continent, i^ derived from a lottery which is drawn in the 



S5 

City of Mexico monthly ; but gifts from all classes of people amount 
yearly to very large sums. 

The 1 2th of each month a high mass is celebrated, which is 
generally well attended by people from the City of Mexico ; but on 
the 1 2th of December is a great religious festival which is attended 
by people from all parts of Mexico to celebrate the day upon which 
the Virgin patroness of Mexico first appeared to Juan Diego. 
Thousands of Indians in their orignal dress attend the festivities 
every year. 

The original flag used by Hidalgo in 1810 is deposited in this 
Cathedral. 

The number of miracles which the Mexicans claim to have 
been performed by their patroness is much too large to be pub- 
lished in this notice, although a catalogue of them would be inter- 
esting to read by the faithful. Nevertheless persons going to Mexico 
should not fail to visit the place. 

Among the distinguished dead buried there are the Viceroy 
Antonio de Bucarelli, one of the best executives Mexico ever had, 
and Colonel Obregon, who has a chapel in which a lamp is con- 
stantly kept burning. 



HISTORY OF MINING IN MEXICO 
UNDER SPANISH RULE 



EXTENT OF THE SPANISH DOMINION. — THE FIRST BONANZA. 

In 1737, the Spanish dominion extended as far as the " Pimeria 
Alta," that is to the Gila river, owing to the efforts made by the 
Jesuits to convert to Christianity the savages who inhabited the 
country, and teach them the arts of civilization. This vast 
region of country is situated between the 31*^ and 33^ of north 
latitude ; it is about 300 miles in length, and is bounded on the east 
by the Apache country, on the south by Sonora, on the West by 
the Gulf of California (or Sea of Cortez) and the country of the 
Seris Indians, and on the north by the Coco Maricopa. In that 
portion of the country which is known as Arizona was found large 
pieces of mineral, almost pure silver. As soon as the Sonora 
miners heard of it, they rushed to the place, where they found a 
large quantity of metal, some of the pieces weighing 20 arrobas, or 
500 pounds, and one piece of 120 arrobas, or 3,000 pounds ; probably 
no such a piece of native silver has ever been found in the world. 

Such an abundance of silver raised a doubt in the minds 
of the counsellors of the Audiencia as to whether the regular 
fifth should be collected for the crown, or whether it should be 
regarded as a treasure, in which case, after paying the discoverer 
his share, the balance would revert to the crown The case 
appeared doubtful to the counsellors of the Audiencia at the City 
of M xi O; who referred it to the council of the Indies, and while 
this appeal was pending the discoverer removed all the silver that 
was to be found on top of the earth, so that when the question was 
decided by the council of the Indies the commission reported that 
the wealth had vanished. 



97 

THE GOLD PLACERS OF SONORA. 

The gold placers of Ceineguilla, State of Sonora, situated 640 
leagues, or 1,584 miles, north-west of the City of Mexico, produced 
from January, 1773, to November 17th of the following year, 4,832 
marcs of gold, which paid into the royal treasury of the town of 
Alamos as duties to the king the sum of $72,000, and it is estimated 
that at least one third of the yield of these placers was smuggled 
out. The immense richness of these placers greatly contrasted 
with the scarcity of provisions and water ; as much as $6 was often 
paid for a barrel of water. 

QUEBRADILLA PRODUCES GREAT WEALTH AND A TITLE. 

In 1786, the mines of Ouebradilla and la Vicayna, near Zaca- 
tecas, were worked with success. Don Antonio Obregon having 
sunk a new shaft, worked with great success the mine of La Valen- 
ciana, near the City of Guanajuato, from the year 1770 to the 14th 
of December, 1778 ; he presented to the royal treasury 4,699 bars 
of silver, weighing 28,039 marcs and 3 ounces, upon which the 
duties amounted to the enormous sum of $648,972, and the further 
sum of 53,088 castellanos of gold, upon which the duties amounted 
to $1 3,05 1 . The above statement was made by the Viceroy Bucarelli 
in a letter to the king of Spain, in which he recommended to the 
king that the successful and fortunate miner be granted the title of 
Count of Valenciana, which distinction was granted by the king. 

In June, 1778, the mining district (mineral) of Hostotipaguillo, 
distant 5 1 3 miles west north-west from the City of Mexico, in the 
then province of Guadalajara, at present the State of Jalisco, was 
discovered and promised great riches. 

THE CATORCE MINES AND THE VICEROY. 

In the year 1779, the mining district of Catorce, distant 164 
leagues, 431 miles, north north-east from the City of Mexico, was 
discovered. It is situated in a canon of the mountain of the same 
name, which rises above a high plateau in the State of San Luis 
Potosi. Its name Catorce, " fourteen," was given it because this 
canon was inhabited by a band of fourteen robbers. It was 



98 

discovered in the following manner : A militia soldier from San Luis 
Potosi had lost his horse while on the way to the town of Mate- 
huala, 162 leagues or 436 miles north north-west, situated on the 
east side of the Catorce mountain ; he returned to search for it, and, 
in crossing the mountain of the Conception of Alamos, or of San 
Antonio de los Coroncados, in the jurisdiction of Charcas, 150 
leagues or 405 miles north north-west from the City of Mexico, dis- 
tant 150 miles from San Luis Potosi, he found a large and rich 
silver lead. The metal found on top the earth when assayed rendered 
20 marcs to the carga of 300 pounds. Having dug a little below 
the surface, ore was found rendering 50 marcs to the carga, or $400 
to 300 pounds of ore. The ore afterwards averaged 30 marcs 
to the carga. The soldier who discovered the mine was named El 
Negrillo (probably a nickname) ; he was a drunkard and a dis- 
solute man, which caused the Viceroy Bucarelli to have him a 
guardian appointed. The notice of this discovery was the last 
made by Viceroy Bucarelli to the king, for he died thirteen days 
afterwards. He was much beloved for his valor and his many 
virtues, and was one of the best viceroys that governed Mexico. 
His memory is venerated to this day. 

Don Carlos Maria Bustamente says that the news of the 
death of Viceroy Bucarelli, and the appointment of the President 
of Guatemala as his successor, was carried from the City of 
Mexico to the City of Guatemala, a distance of 400 leagues, or 
1,052 miles, over a rough mountainous path, with many wide rivers 
to cross, in seven days. The courier's name who performed this 
feat was F. Varo. This extraordinary man in his way, was born 
in the province of Andalusia, Spain. 



THE MINES OF GUANAJUATO. 

Every (mineral) mining district was a prosperous centre and a 
great source of revenue to the treasury. The province of Guana- 
juato alone produced to the crown of Spain, from 1760 to 1781, in 
tax upon silver, tobacco, tributes, powder and playing cards, 
the sum of $23,143,921, and the following years still produced 
more revenue, so that after paying all the costs of government 
left a clear revenue to the crown amounting to $1,100,000 an- 



99 

nually. That was about the time of its greatest prosperity. In 
those days the mines of Cata and Mellado were in bonanzas. They 
were the property of the Marquis of San Clemente, one of the 
richest and most honored families of Guanajuato. After the above 
mentioned mines, those of Santa Anita and Rayas come next, also 
yielding large profits. The mine of Rayas was the property of 
Sardaneta. The head of that family, while that mine was in its 
great bonanza, was granted by the king of Spain the title of Mar- 
quis of Sardaneta. 

THE ZACATECAS MINES. 

The riches derived from the Zacatecas mines were anterior to 
that of Guanajuato. 

Its mines were discovered about the time of the conquest, and 
during the i8o years that elapsed from the discovery oi its leads to 
the year 1732, they had produced the sum of $832,232,880, which 
paid as tax to the royal treasury the sum of $46,523,000. From 
these mines the following wealthy and enobled families came forth : 
The counts of San Mateo Valparaiso, Santa Rosa, Santiago de la 
Laguna, and many others. In the year 1728, Zacatecas produced 
$1,800,000 yearly, which was at that time one-fifth of all the silver 
coined in Mexico. It afterwards even produced more, and became 
a bonanza equal to the Quebradilla mines, the property then, in 
1 8 10, of Don Firmin de Apezechea. In other mineral districts 
many mines were very flourishing, such as the Bolanos mine, the 
property of the Marquis of Vivanco ; the mine of " El Pabellon," in 
Sombrerete, State of Zacatecas, distant 105 leagues, or 265 miles, 
north-west from the City of Mexico, the property of the family of 
Fagoaga, and those of Real del Monte, situated in the State of 
Mexico, about 21 leagues, or 50 miles, north-east from the City of 
Mexico, the property then of the Count of Regla, now worked by 
an English company. Most of these rich miners finally became the 
owners of the largest and best estates (haciendas) in the country, 
having mostly purchased the estates of the Jesuits when they were 
expelled from the countr}'-. These wealthy citizens expended gener- 
ally a large portion of their fortune in charities. The large surplus 
of money existing in Mexico caused real estate to raise in value, 
and brought forth many new industries. 



100 

MAMMOTH VEINS. 

One of the peculiar features of the silver mines in Mexico, 
distinguishing them from all others in South America, is the large 
size of the veins more than the richness of the metals. The vein 
worked at Real del Monte, near the City of Mexico, which is calkd 
la " Biscaina," is several yards wide ; the vein " Calle Veta Madre " 
(main vein), at Guanajuato, is about ten yards wide, and some- 
times more ; this one has been worked for a distance of thirteen 
kilometres. 

One great advantage that Mexican mines have over those of 
other countries is the character of the climate where they are found. 
They are seldom situated more than six or seven thousand feet 
above the level of the sea, hence they enjoy a temperate climate. 
The mines of Guanajuato are situated in a country that produce, 
in the valleys, two crops of grain yearly ; while the mines of Peru 
are at a height of 12,000 to 13,000 feet above the level of the 
ocean ; although under the equator, the mines of Peru are situated 
in a country as cold as Siberia ; this alone is greatly in favor of the 
Mexican mines. 

COINAGE OF THE MINT IN THE CITY OF MEXICO. 

By consulting a statement published by Don Jose Maria Za- 
morra, it will be seen that the mint at the City of Mexico, from 
1690 to 1822, had coined : 

In gold and silver, $1,640,493,786 

And from 1823 to December, 1839, .... 32,834,361 
And in other mints established in other States 

and Provinces 162,263,021 

Making a toUl of $1,835,591,168 

From 1 8 14 to January, 1873, the mint at the City of Mexico 
coined $5,060,178.38 copper money. But it must be remarked that 
the amount of silver and gold coined does not indicate the pro- 
ducts of the mines, as a large amount of plaia pasta (silver bars) 
were sent to Spain, or smuggled out of the country to avoid paying 
export duty, and that a considerable amount was manufactured 
into plate and used in the mounting of jewels. 



101 
THE PRODUCT OF LA VALENCIANA. 

To conceive an idea of the products of some of the best mines 
of Mexico, it is only necessary to know that the mine of " La Va- 
lenciana," near the City of Guanajuato, produced to its owners, 
from the 5th of April, 1788, to the 20th of March, 1798, a net profit 
of $8,000,000. 

Until 1848, Mexico was the first country on the face of the 
earth in the production of precious metals ; it produced more than 
all the American States together. 

HISTORY OF MEXICAN MINES. 

Immediately after the conquest of Mexico by Cortez, its 
mineral wealth was hardly known, and Peru took the palm as a 
silver producing country. Its name Peru still seems to designate 
an unlimited wealth. The greatest mine in Pern was known 
as the Paton Potocckz, which has been corrupted into Potosi» 
and out of which $280,000,000 have been extracted. 

Under Montezuma, the Aztecs worked but few silver mines; they 
were not enhghtened enough td work any but those that contained 
native silver, and such mines are very scarce. In most of the mines 
that are worked with advantage, the appearance of silver is entirely 
hid by its intimate association with sulphur, antimony, arsenic and 
other substances, so much so that a person who is not versed in 
science would not recognize the presence of silver. It is also very 
difficult to separate the silver from the various c(5mbinations. It is 
well known that with gold it is the contrary, as that metal is always 
found in a natural state. This, in all probability, explains the phe- 
nomena well proved by history, that the Spaniards found among 
the population of America more gold than silver, although silver 
mines are found in much greater number ; or, to express it more cor- 
rectly, they are much more prolific in metals than the gold mines. 

At the beginning of the eighteenth century the mines of 
Mexico only produced in gold and silver from six to seven millions 
of dollars. In the middle of the last century, they produced about 
thirteen millions of dollars. At the end of the last and beginning 
of this century they produced from twenty-five to twenty-six mil- 
lions of dollars. At present they do not produce as much. 



102 

THE DISCOVERY OF THE PATIO PROCESS. 

It was a Mexican miner, by the name of Bartholomew Medina 
(to whose memory no monument has ever been erected, and 
whose name and resting place is forgotten, a shame to our rich 
miners), who invented or discovered, in 1557, the method by which 
nearly all the mineral has been worked to this day. This method 
is called in Spanish patio, or cold amalgamation, and consists 
in mixing quicksilver, and other ingredients less expensive, such 
as salt and a substance called magistral (a mineral composed 
of sulphur of iron and sulphur of copper, which has previously been 
calcinated), by which method, silver can be extracted out of the 
poorest minerals without melting them. This was a fortunate 
discovery for a country where fuel was scarce, particularly in 
the vicinity of the mines, which are seldom found in places where 
fu6l abounds, and many mines in Mexico have been abandoned on 
account of the difficulty or expense in procuring fuel to work them. 
On the other hand, this method consumed large quantities of 
quicksilver, as it is calculated that to extract a pound of silver it 
takes a pound and a half of quicksilver. All the quicksilver was 
furnished by the Almaden mines, of old Spain, until the California 
mines of New Almaden were put in working order. It was a 
monopoly in the hands of the crown of Spain, and itc agents often, 
abused it to the great distress of the miners. 

HUMBOLDT'S OPINION. 

Mr. de Humboldt, at the beginning of this century, wrote as 
follows : " In general, the abundance of silver is such in the Cor- 
dillera chain, that when one reflects upon the mines that have not 
yet been worked or explored, one is tempted to believe that we 
have not yet begun to enjoy the inexhaustible richness that the 
New World contains." 

The world would be inundated with precious metals if the 
mines of Bolanos, Batopilas Sombrerete, El Rosario, Pachuca, 
Moran, Zultepec, of Chihuahua, and many others which have here- 
tofore been celebrated, were worked with the improved machinery 
that has been invented since 1848. 



103 
MR. DUPONT'S opinion. 

Mr. Dupont, a competent Frenchman, after speaking of the 
wealth of Mexico, adds that a time will come, sooner or later, when 
the production of silver will only be limited by its certainly increasing 
depreciation. When we look at our production of silver to-day, we 
are tempted to believe that this time has arrived. 

In the State of Guanajuato alone, from July, 1876, to July, 
1878, the sum of $4,437,286.92 in silver and gold has been coined. 



MINTS AND ASSAYING OFFICES. 
COINAGE. 

City of Mexico, from 1537 to 1867, $2,251,993,61365 

City of Zacatecas, from 1810 to 1867, . . . 214,870,89862 

City of Guanajuato, from 1 8 12 to 1867, . . . 187,950,385 25 

City of San Luis Potosi, from 1827 to 1867, . 52,723,419 75 

City of Durango, from 1811 to 1867, .... 39,827,60868 

City of Guadalajara, from 1812 to 1867, . . . 30.307,755 96 

City of Chihuahua, from 1811 to 1867, .... 18,055,570 08 
City of Culiacan, from 1846 to 1867, exclusive of 

the year 1857, 18,416,336 49 

Guadaloupe y Calco, from 1844 to 1850, . , . 4,375,06206 

Sombrerete, from 1810 to 1812, 1,551,24925 

Tlalpan, from 1828 to 1830, 1,162,660 87 

Oaxaca, from 1859 to 1867, 1,525,231 35 

Catorce, in 1865, . 1,321,545 00 

Alamos, Hermosillo, Cosala, Batoseagachi, Par- 

ral, Jesus Maria. 
Supposing that the mints of Mexico, Zacatecas, 
Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi, Durango, Gua- 
dalajara, Chihuahua, Culiacan and Oaxaca 
coined, in 1868 and 1869, the same amount 

as in 1867, we find the following amount, . 36,557,733 92 

Carried forward, $2,860,639,070 93 



104 

Brought forward, ...... $2,860,639,070 

And supposing that the amount of silver used 
in circulation and manufactured into silver- 
ware or jewelry, and the amount fraudu- 
lently-extracted from 1 52 1 to 1867, accord- 
ing to the calculation of the distinguished 
statesman Lerdo de Tejada, is $2,500,000 
per year, we find the sum of 862,500,000 00 

We find the products of the mines in Mexico 

amounting to the sum of $3>723, 139,070 93 

The above statement only gives an idea of the mineral wealth 
of Mexico, which will yet astonish the world when American 
capital and industry develop the untold wealth of that country. 

AMERICAN GOLD AND SILVER PRODUCTION SINCE 1 848. 

According to the best data, the production of California, 
Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Wash- 
ington, New Mexico and Arizona, from 1 848 to the i st of January, 
1882, amounts to the following sums : 

Gold, $1,713,174,508 

Silver, 583,421,678 

Making a grand total of $2,296,596,186 

Most of it produced in territory formerly belonging to Mexico. 



CATALOGUE 

OF SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL MINING DISTRICTS SITUATED 
IN THE DIFFERENT STATES OF THE REPUBLIC, AND DES- 
CRIPTION OF SOME OF THEIR MINES. 

STATE OF AGUASCALIENTES. 

This State possesses rich mines, which, as we will often have 
occasion to remark, are not operated, like many others in the Re- 



105 

public, for want of security of capital ; but, fortunately for beautiful 
and rich Mexico, such time is over, and this country will soon expose 
its latent wealth to the world. 

In the mining Districts of Asientos and Tepesala, 1 5 leagues 
North East of the Capital, are found the abandoned mines of San 
Francisco, Romana and others, Descubridora, Cristo, San Antonio 
de los Pobres, celebrated in olden times for the richness of their 
silver ores. In the Descubridora mine a vein 1 1 .7 metres wdde was 
worked. 

In the District of Calpulalpan are situated the mines of San 
Pedro del Bosque and La Purisima. 

MINES OF " MAGISTRAL." 

Those of La Magdalena, La Cruz, Santo Tomas, Santo Do- 
mingo, San Dimas, Corralillo, La Verde, San Vicente, La Chicaro- 
na, El Aguila and La Peiiuela. 

In all 23 mines. 

STATE OF CHIHUAHUA. 

The State of Chihuahua is very justly considered to be one of 
the richest in minerals in the Republic. It is divided into twenty 
cantons — where 120 mining districts are known to exist; in these 
mining districts 575 mines have been worked since the conquest 
of the country by the Spaniards. Some mines, yielding 16 ounces 
of silver to the carga of 300 pounds, have been abandoned on 
account of being too isolated and also for the want of laborers. 

The mines that have been worked have only been worked at 
a depth of 300 metres, on account of the difficulties encountered 
in the extraction of the ores. The inundations of the mines and 
the necessity of fortifying the shafts with timber in a country 
where wood is scarce or only to be had at a great distance, has 
also been the cause of abandonment of well-paying mines, but 
with the completion of the projected railroads, and with Ameri- 
can capital and enterprise, a wonderful change will take place in 
the next five years. Lands have already more than quadrupled in 
value since the completion of the Southern Pacific to El Paso and 
Texas. 



106 



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113 

Of these mineral districts 14 are producers of gold, 4 of copper, 
4 of lead, I of mercury, 3 of salt, 2 of coal and 541 of silver. They 
also contain zinc, antimony, arsenic, cobalt, nickel, bismuth, tin 
and other minerals. It is supposed that the Bolsom of Mapini, 
which has never been thoroughly explored, contains immense and 
untold wealth. 

The mountains of this State are also rich in marble, alabas- 
ter, jasper and coal. 

Discoveries. — Santa Barbara was discovered in 1 547 ; Parral 
in 1600; Cieneg^illa in 1608; Guazaparesin 1628; Uriquein 1630; 
Batopilas in 1632; Cusihuiriachic in 1666; Chihuahuilla in 1671 ; 
Santa Eulalia in 1704; Topago in 1750; Umachic in 1760; San 
Joaquin, in 1774; Umapa in 1778 ; El Refugio in 1810; Jesus Ma- 
ria in 1 82 1 ; Palmares in 1824 ; Morelos in 1826 ; Setentrion in 1829; 
Batouzachic in 1839 ; Santo Domingo in 1867 ; Guadaloupe in 1869 ; 
Zapuri in 1873. 

If classified according to their richness, they have to be placed 
in the following order, viz. : ist, Batopilas; 2d, Parral ; 3d, Santa 
Eulalia ; 4th, Jesus Maria ; 5th, Cusihuiriachic ; 6th, Morelos ; 
7th, Guadaloupe y Calvo ; 8th, Uriqui ; 9th, Umachic ; loth, 
Corralitos ; nth, Zapuri; 12th, Topago and 13th, Umapa. 



STATE OF COAHUILA. 

At one time, more than sixty mines were worked to advantage 
in this State. There are mines of iron, copper, silver, sulphur, nitre 
and amianthus, which would pay well if worked with American 
improved machinery. 

The river Nazas runs through the important mining district of 
Real de San Juan de Guadaloupe. In the mining district of Santa 
Rosa a number of mines are now worked with profit. 

Castafia ; this mine was worked with profit until it filled with 
water ; it is now the property of an American company, which will 
in all probability be successful. 

Viezca ; this mine near Parras was at one time worked with 
profit- 



113 

Escondida. 

Within the last two years, some veins have been discovered 
near the City of Monclova, but are hardly rich enough to pay. 

It was claimed by this State that the territory upon which the 
Sierra Mojada mines are situated properly belonged to it. 

There is now no doubt but that large quantities of ore are found 
in the Mojada mountains, but the lack of water and fuel, and more 
particularly the desert of one hundred miles without water which 
has to be crossed before reaching the mining district, is at present 
a great impediment to its development. 

In the archives of the Presidio of Santa Rosa, now Villa (town) 
de Musquiz, can still be found a report made to the Government at 
Mexico, by Don Felipe Torralva, president»of the mining board of 
the department in which Santa Rosa is situated ; it is dated no- 
vember 24th, 1 844. It shows that, at that time, 5 1 mines were 
known in said mineral mining district, all producing easily smelted 
ores, and their yield in silver to have been as follows, viz. : 18 mines 
produced ores yielding from 4 to 6 ounces of silver per carga (300 
Mexican pounds), or $28 to $42 per ton ; 17 mines yielding i marc 
to the carga, or $56 to the ton ; 5 mines yielding 3 marcs to the 
carga, or $168 to the ton ; i mine yielding 4 marcs to the carga, or 
$224 to the ton ; 2 mines yielding 6 marcs to the carga, or $336 to 
the ton ; i mine yielding 8 marcs to the carga, or $448 to the ton ; 
I mine yielding 10 marcs to the carga, or $560 to the ton ; 3 mines 
yielding 30 marcs to the carga, or $1,680 to the ton, and i mine 
yielding 100 ounces to the carga, or $5,600 to the ton. In the latter 
mine, which is known as the San Juan mine, according to tra- 
dition, large pieces of pure silver were found. In the mines of 
Santa Gertrudis and El Pabellon, which produced ores yielding as 
much as thirty marcs of silver per carga or $1,680 to the ton^ 
pieces of virgin silver weighing one ounce and more were 
found — leaves of silver as thin as paper were also found mixed with 
slate. 



114 

STATE OF DURANGO. 

In this State many mines have had to be abandoned on account 
of the Indian incursions. American companies have lately been 
formed to develop some of them. 

The principal mining districts of this State are the following, 
viz. : San Dimas, Guarisamey, Tayoltita, Ventanas, Negros, Gavi- 
lanes, Tominil, Basiz, Huahuapan, Guasaya, Amaculy, Tamazula, 
Rodeo, Chacala, Bajada, Sianori, Topia, Metatitos, Birimoa, Cane- 
las, Copalquin, Todos Santos, Ocotal, Tamazula, Saucito, Santa 
Elena, Boca Ortiz, Comitala, Cerro de las Minas, Guanacevi, Cone- 
to, Papasquiaro, Chiquihuistita, Inde, El Oro. In the interior of 
the State : Cuencame, Parilla, Mapimi, San Juan de Guadaloupe, 
Noria de San Juan, Noria de Carlena, Agua Nueva, and lastly the 
inexhaustible iron mountain of Mercados. In all, 43 mining dis- 
tricts. 

The inexhaustible iron mountain known as the Cerro del Mer- 
cado, was discovered by the Spanish captain Gines Vasquez del 
Mercado in 1 562, it is situated two kilometres north of the City of 
Durango. Speaking of this mine, Mr. Bouring says it could supply 
for 330 years, all the English iron foundries, which consume yearly 
15,000,000 quintals of iron (a quintal is 100 lbs.) This would be 
worth 9,900 millions of dollars, a sum representing seven times the 
gold and silver coined in the mint at the City of Mexico from 
1690 to 1803. 

Five specimens of the ore from the Mercado mountain were 
essayed by M. H. Borje, of Philadelphia, on the 25th of May, 1880, 
and gave the following results. 

In one hundred parts of metal. 

ist Essay. 2d Essay. 3d Essay. 4th Essay. 5th Essay. 

Oxide of iron, . . . 96.3 93.8 98.2 71.0 67.1 

Silica, ..... 2.6 3.4 0.6 28.1 25.5 

Aluminum, .... o.i 1.2 0.5 0.2 0.5 

Carbonate of lime, . 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 

Water, 0.7 1.6 0.7 0.7 6.4 

Total, . . . 1 00.0 1 00.0 1 00.0 1 00.0 1 00.0 

Pure iron, .... 66.77 65.3 68.8 49.23 50.55 



115 



STATE OF GUANAJUATO. 

The mines of this State are celebrated as much for their anti- 
quity as for their extraordinary richness, among the principal are 
those of 

Guanajuato. 

La Luz. 

San Nicolas. 

Santa Rosa. 

Santa Ana. 

La Valenciana. 

Mellado. 

Villalpando. 

San Jose de los Muchachos. 

The above mines contain gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, tin, 
cinnabar and other valuable minerals. 

Capulin. 

Comangilla. 

Gigante. 

Monte de San Nicolas. 

Real del Marfil. 

Real de Salinas. 

Rincon de Centeno. 

San Antonio de las Minas. 

San Juan de la Chica. 

San Rafael de los Lobos. 

In the vicinity of the city of Dolores Hidalgo, is found a finv. 
quality of rock for mill-stones. 



STATE OF GUERRERO. 



This State is very justly considered as one of the richest ol 
the Republic in minerals ; it is said that gold placers have been 
discovered far more rich than any found in Upper California ; civil 
war in this State and the hostility of some of the population to 



116 

foreigners has in a great measure prevented the development of 
the immense wealth of this State. In 1880, 460 mines were known 
to exist in this State (too numerous to be described in this work). 
Among the principal mining districts are those of Cuitlanapa, Tasco, 
Hidalgo, Aldama, Brazos, Morelos, Chilapa. In Huilzuco are 
found rich quicksilver, silver and coal mines. 



THE STATE OF HIDALGO. 



This State embraces two well-defined hydrographical regions : 
that of the river Amajaque, and that of Tula and Moctezuma rivers, 
separated by extensive chains of mountains rich in minerals. This 
State was formed out of the States of Mexico, San Luis Potosi 
and Vera Cruz, comprising that rich portion of Mexico known as 
" La Huastesca." 

The most important mining districts of this State are the 
following : 

Pachuca. 

Real del Monte. 

Mineral del Chico— 23 mines were worked in this district in 
1879, and 17 remained abandoned. 

Potosi. 

Capula. 

Santa Rosa — this district was formerly worked by the cele- 
brated house of Jecker, whose pretended debt was the cause of the 
French intervention in Mexico. The following mines are situated 
m this district : Santa Rosa, San Jose, Franco-Mexicana, El Escri- 
bano. El Nino, Providencia, Trinidad, Buenaventura, Soledad, San 
Briguel, Santisima, and Santa Isabel. 

Mineral de Tepeni. 

Zimapan. 

Tolenian, 24 mines. 

Lomo del Tore, 1 9 mines. 



117 

Monte San Felipe, 17 mines. 
Mineral de Jacala. 
Mineral de la Encamacion. 
San Bemado, iron mines. 
Mineral del Cardenal, 37 mines. 



THE STATE OF JALISCO. 



This State possesses mines of gold, silver, copper and iron. 
Among the richest districts are the following : The mining district 
of Tepic contains 8 mineral, or mining districts, and 56 mines ; the 
Mountain of Mascota is said to be rich in minerals. The mining 
district of San Sebastian, 60 miles south of the city of Tepic, in 
which most of the mines are not worked actually ; the mining dis- 
trict of Talpa, in which 36 mines are worked, and a great many 
more are either idle or abandoned ; in the mining district of Te- 
quila, 54 mines are worked at present ; in the mining districts of 
Eolanos and Comanja. (Bolanos is one of the mining districts of 
Mexico that has produced immense wealth.) The following sta- 
tement, showing the amount of coin, the produce of some mines 
in this great State of Jalisco, gives an idea of the state of mining 
industry in that State in 1879 : 



rom 


the mining district of Bramador, . 


• I399.394 


" 




Cuale, 


281,466 


" 




Hostotipaquillo, 


• 235,643 


" 




Ixtlan, 


178,643 


" 




Etzatlan, 


167.578 


" 




Yesca, 


70,779 


" 




San Sebastian, 


33,875 


'* 




Santo Tomas, . 


27.366 


" 




La Bautista, 


7,753 


** 




Bolanos, . 


883 






Total, .. 


. $1,403,380 



118 



TABLE SHOWING THE MINERAL DISTRICTS IN THE 
STATE OF JALISCO. 





Number 




Names of districts. 


of mines. 


Quality of metal. 


Bolafios, .... 


— 


Gold and silver. 


Comanja, . 


— 


(< tt 


Amalco, .... 


9 


Silver. 


Santo Tomas, 


— 


" 


Palmarejo, 


— 


" 


Copala, 


— 


" 


Amatlan de Jora, . 


3 


" 


Ameca, 


— 


Gold, silver and copper- 


Ahualulco, 


3 


Silver. 


Anonas, 


— 


" 


Hostotipaquillo, 


27 


" 


Etzatlan, 


6 


Silver and lead. 


Garabatos, 


I 


(< 


Yesca, 


3 


'« 


Montaje, 


7 


" 


Ixtlan, 


2 


" 


Mojo Cuatultlan, 


2 


" 


Acuitapilco, 


16 


" 


San Jose en Tatepusco, . 


— 


" 


Amasaquas, 


— 


" 


Santa Maria del Oro, 


4 


" 


Tenamiche, 


5 


<< 


Estanzuela, 


4 


i( 


Heutzisila, . 


II 


t( 


Chimaltitlan, . 


7 


" 


Huanchinango, . 


— 


Silver, gold and copper 


Altena, .... 


— 


Silver. 


San Sebastian, 


22 


Silver and gold. 


Avillas, .... 


— 


Silver. 


Los Reyes, . 


— 


" 


La Navidad, . 


— 


" 


Ocotital, 


50 


Negros. 


Jalapa, .... 


— 


Silver. 


Veladero, . 


52 


Copper. 



119 





Number 




Names of districts. 


of mines. 


Quality of metal 


Cuale, . 


30 


Gold, silver, etc. 


Desmoronado, 


3 


Black metals. 


Bramador, 


8 


Silver and gold. 


Aranguez, , 


4 


Black metals. 


Ayulta, . . . 


— 


Silver. 


Guadaloupe, 


3 


Silver and gold. 


Agua Blanca, . 


— 


Copper. 


Talpa, .... 


— 


Gold and silver. 


La Bautista, . 


— 


Silver. 


Tapalpa, 


— 


Iron and silver. 


San Rafael, 


23 


Silver. 


El Jabon. . 


— 


" 


Providencia, . 

T n ._ _. • - • J 


_i-_' ^_ •- ___!-• 1- 


Iron. 



In all, 47 mining districts, in which 303 mines are actually- 
worked ; there is in this State 46 smelting works for smelting ores. 



THE STATE OF MEXICO. 



This State possesses very rich mining districts, among which 
are the following, viz. : Mineral del Oro, situated in a group of 
mountains about 45 miles N. W. of the city of Toluca, capital of 
the State. It is a rich gold district, the principal veins are those 
named Chihuahua, San Acasio, La Descubridora, San Rafael, 
vetilla or smaller veins de los Mondragones, de la Caliza and de la 
Descubridora. There are at present seven mines not worked for 
want of capital and 1 8 more abandoned for various reasons. 

Temascaltepec — In 1 881, 39 mines were worked in this district. 
The best mine, known as La Magdalena, produces silver ore that 
yield 50 marcs to the carga of 300 pounds, or 2,100 ounces of pure 
silver to the ton of ore. 



130 

Tejupilco — 3 silver mines are actually worked in this district 
and 4 are abandoned. 

Nancitilla — There are 1 1 silver mines, at present abandoned. 

Amatepec — 3 mines are worked actually. 

Ixtapa del Oro — 4 mines are actually worked in this district 
and 13 are at present idle. 

Jultepec — 38 mines are actually worked in this district and 
105 are either idle or abandoned. 

Zacualpan — 10 mines are actually worked in this district and 
68 are either idle or abandoned. 

In this State 65 mines are actually worked and 259 are either 
idle or abandoned. 



THE STATE OF MICHOACAN. 



This is also one of the richest mineral States of Mexico. 
Among the most celebrated mines of Mexico is that of Halpujahua, 
as well on account of its richness as on account of its historical 
record. Close to this mine is situated the peak known as " Campo del 
Gallo," where Padre Hidalgo established a gun foundry, and where 
the first Mexican cannons used by the revolutionists against their 
Spanish oppressors were cast. The following mineral districts 
are also worked in this State, viz. : 

Angangueo. 

Espiritu Santo. 

Guayabo. 

Omoltan. 

Iguaran. 

Curucupaceo. 

Ozumatlan y barra. 

Chapatuato. 

San Antonio. 

Cualcoman. 

Tlalpujahua. 

The metals of these mines consist of gold mixed with iron, 



121 

cinnabar, coal, antimony and emeril. The ores are worked both 
by the patio or cold amalgamation process and smelting. 

In 1880, 32 mines were worked in the district of Tlapugahua 
18 in that of Omatlan and 5 in that of Curucupasco. The names 
of the innumerable mines situated in the other mining districts are 
not known. 



THE STATE OF MORELOS. 



The principal wealth of this State consists in its agricultural 
productions, although the following mines are operated at present : 



Mining district of Oaxtepec, 
Huaulta, 



The mine of Tenango. 

.'• Tlachichilpa. 



San Esteban. 
" Concepcion. 

" San Jose. 

Peregrina. 

In the municipality of Cuemacaca is a peak called Barriga de 
Plata (Silver Belly), in old times some mines were worked in that 
mountain, but are now abandoned. In the municipality of Ju- 
tepec is a mountain whose formation consists of carbonate of lime, 
marble with metallic veins formed by various oxydes, and a fine 
quality of gypsum. 

There is actually in this State 15 paralyzed mines, 7 silver 
mines, i of cinnabar, i of alabaster, 2 of jasper, 4 of marble. 



THE STATE OF NUEVO LEON. 



In this State mines are found in the valleys as well as on the 
mountain tops. Most of its mines are now abandoned, they 



123 

contain silver, gold, lead, iron, copper, sulphur, nitrate of potash, 
alabaster and white marble. Muriate of soda is also found in 
large deposits. 

Great bonanzas were found during the last century in the 
mountains of Boca de Leones or Villaldama, and the Iguana Hills, 
situated southeast of the latter place, as appears by the annexed 
reports of the Spanish governors and inspectors of that province. 

The mines in the District of Serralvo, which produced great 
bonanzas last century are now. worked again with success, and one 
of them is in bonanza. 

The following mines have been worked successfully, and are 
now being placed in good working order, viz. : 

Minas viegas. 

La Catita. 

La Ladera. 

Moreno, Coyache, La Farandula and Chihuahua, four silver 
mines now in working order, the property of the Anglo-Texan- 
Mexican Mining and Smelting Company, organized by Mr. W. A. 
Gifford. Said company has its domicile at Houston, Texas, and 
its smelting works at the town of Villadama. 

La Valenciana. 

San Nicolas. 

New mines in Potrero de la Parra. 

El Rosario, now worked by a Texan company. 

Vallecillo. 

jL,a Iguana. 

Santa Rita. 

Candela. 

Pinitas. 

Montanas. 

Sabinas Hidalgo. 

Real de Salinas. 

La Plomosa, Sabarado and Sacramento 



REPORTS FROM OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. 

Las Minas de San Antonio de la Iguana were discovered in 
the year 1757. They were very rich in native silver ; and although 



123 

the bonanza lasted but a little while, it attracted many people from 
ihe interior. 

A tour of inspection was made in 1775 by Lieut.-Colonel Don 
Melchor Vidal de Lorca, in the new kingdom of Leon, belonging 
to New Spain, while Governor of the same. The following is taken. 
from his report : 

" In the Real de San Antonio de la Iguana, mining district of 
La Iguana, distant from this city (Montery) 37 leagues north-west, 
was discovered a bonanza in the year 1757, it was visited by me 
on the 27th of February of the present year. In this place there are 
fifteen Spanish families with thirty-two servants, mostly all males, 
who are all engaged in mining. None of the mines are worked regu- 
larly, but rocks taken from them here and there still maintain the 
hope in these people. Those mines were in Borrasca (eight leagues 
south-west of Lampasas) and situated between two small moun- 
tains divided by a creek having a small spring at its head, hardly 
giving a sufificiency of water for the population, which is obliged to 
dig wells in order to provide for the daily wants of that community." 

In his Information and Catalogue of Mines (written in 1806),. 
Don Simon de Herrera, then Governor of Nuevo Leon and 
commander of the Corps of Observation sent to the Louisiana fron- 
tier (the same who, with Governor Salcedo, was butchered in cold 
blood on the Rosillo, in 181 3, by order of Lara) speaking of these 
mines, says: "In 1737, the celebrated mines of La Iguana 
(lizzard), well-known in mineralogy, produced many millions 
in a few days on account of the richness of its ore. Miners called 
it a lizzard of silver, which disappeared in a few days. Most of the 
silver was found in loose stones in a ravine in the direction of the 
mine that produced the lizzard." The writer had one in his pos- 
session which weighed twenty-five pounds, and, being smelted, lost 
only eight ounces in weight. Being lead and silver it was easily 
smelted. To-day there are only a few buscones. Searchers now 
occasionally find small veins, which, although very rich, do not pay 
on account of the rebelliousness of the ore, in which much powder 
and steel are wasted. Mining engineers who have visited the 
district, say that it would become of great importance if its ores 
were steadily worked with sufficient capital, and prospecting made 
for the principal vein. 

In 1757, near the frontier of Nuevo Leon, at La Iguana, was 



124 

discovered immensely rich silver mines, which, if the abundance 
of silver they furnished at first had continued, w^ould no doubt 
have been by far the richest mines of New Spain. Its veins {reta) 
furnished three qualities of metal : The first was very curious {Greta 
45 Lend) being a quality of sand which hardened when exposed 
to the air, and which would, when broken, uncover threads of pure 
silver, so entangled together that art could not have imitated them. 
Though beautiful, this metal was inferior. The second vein was of 
silver lead, which, when smelted, produced 50 per cent, of silver. 
The metal found in the third vein was of a yellowish color, which, 
if cleansed of a few pebbles and sand, was pure silver. 



THE STATE OF OAXACA. 

This State contains the following mining districts : Ixtlan, 
Villa Alta, Teoxocomulco and Peras. 

The districts of Ixtlan and Villa Alta are pro'^ucing nearly all 
the silver, whether coined or exported from the State. One 
hundred and forty mines are now actually in operation and forty 
are abandoned. 



THE STATE OF PUEBLA. 

But little is known of the mining wealth of this State, though 
it is generally believed that important discoveries will hereafter be 
made. At present, a superior quality of stone-coal has been found 
in the department of San Juan de Los Llanos, and silver mines at 
Xihuitlipa, San Andres Chalchicomula, Techachalco and Teteta 
del Oro. 



125 
THE STATE OF QUERETARO. 

The mining history of this State is only known with some 
degree of certainty since the year 1770, when a mining deputation 
was estabHshed at Cadereyta, that had within its jurisdiction the 
mining districts of El Doctor, San Pedro Escanela, Amoles, Rio 
Blanco and Majada Grande. 

The variety of minerals found in this State are natural siher, 
sulphur of silver, galena, grey copper, copper, malachite, antimony, 
red iron, grey iron, cinnabar, native mercury, lignite, anthracite, opal, 
very fine and ordinary calcedoine, rock cristal, copperas, and many 
others. 

In 1881, the follovdng mines were either worked or abandoned 
as shown in the statement : 

Mineral del Doctor ; mining district of Las Aguas. — The mines 
of Santa Ines, producing silver, and that of Sombrerete, producing 
green silver or chlorure, are both worked with profit. 

Mining district of Vizarron. — The mines of La Sojonia and 
Nuestra Senora de las Nieves, are refractory earth and are worked. 

Mining district of Tierra Colorada. — Five quicksilver mines 
are operated, viz. : San Joaquin, Senor de la Esperanza, San Jose 
and San Lorenzo. 

DISTRICT OF TALPAN. 

Mining District of Akuacatlan. 

Peiiasco, . Lead. 

Santa Clara, Lead and silver. 

San Jose, " 

El Carmen, " 

Mina Grande, Silver. 

Purisima, Lead and silver. 

Rosario, ....... " 

La Merita, •• 

DISTRICT OF TOLIMAN. 
Mining District of Rio Blanco. 
Nuestra Seiiora de Guadaloupe, . . . Gold and silver. 



Santa Ana, 

San Antonio del Oro, 



126 

There are actually 23 idle mines in the mining district of 
Las Aguas, 3 in the district of Vizarron, 4 in the district of El 
Doctor, II in the district of San Cristobal, 16 in the district jf 
Attuacatlan, 3 in the district of Tollman, 2 in the district of Tolo- 
manejo, and 7 in the district of Rio Blanco, mostly for the want of 
capital and enterprise, one only on account of its poor ores. 



THE STATE OF SAN LUIS POTOSL 



The rich mines of this State are not developed for the want of 
necessary capital to work them, they ranked at one time among 
the richest of the country. 

The principal mining districts are the following, viz. : 

Real de Catorce. 

Guadalcazar. 

Charcas. 

Ramos. 

Ojo Caliente. 

San Pedro. 

Santa Maria del Pefion Blanco. 

The above mines contain silver, copper, lead, mercury, sulphur, 
native silver, gold ; and also others containing red and blue silver 
ores of rare beauty. 

Santa Maria del Pefion Blanco has very rich salt deposits. 
i Blancas. 

Los Pozos. 

Matehuala. 

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE GUADALCAZAR MINING DISTRICT, 

This mining town was first settled in the years 161 2 and 1620. 
Don Diego Fernandez de Cordova, Marquis of Guadalcazar, being 



137 

then Vice-Roy of New Spain (Mexico). This mining district con- 
tains a great variety of metals, such as gold in placers, silver, 
copper, lead, mercury, iron and sulphur. 

It was overflowed in 1622 by a water-spout ; these mines are 
said to be very rich and only need capital to be developed profit- 
ably. They were known under the following names : As- 
cencion de Alvarado, Veta Vizcaina, San Pedro, Santo Tomas, 
Tercias partes, Corcovada, San Clemente, Remedios, Estaquillo and 
San Amaranto : all of them situated on the eastern slope of the 
mountain of San Cristobal ; on the west side of said mountain are 
also rich mines known as San Francisco del Ramillo, San Jose, El 
Cascajal, La Cocinera, Santa Catarina, La Angelica, La Compania 
and the Sacramento. All of the above mentioned mines produced 
ores very rich in metal, but also were abandoned in those days on 
account of the rebelliousness of the ore, but no doubt that 
they could with improved American machinery be worked profit- 
ably. At the foot of the mountain is situated a mine known as 
San Juan Stanislao, it was discovered in the year 1648, and it 
produced a great bonanza in 1650. Its ores rendered $80.00 
per carga of 300 pounds when smelted. Adjoining this mine 
are those of Jesus, Promontorio San Juan de Encino, Marquesote, 
El Muerto, La Cruz, La Manavilla. On the south slope of said 
mountain the following mines are also found : that of San Rafael, 
which was discovered in 1627, and denominated as Santo Domingo, 
it produced immense wealth ; also those of San Vicente, La Encar- 
nacion, San Jose, La Concepcion, El Carmen, Guadaloupe, and San 
Miguel el Gato. In all of the above mentioned mines are found ores 
that do not average less than $24.00 per carga of 300 pounds. They 
have the great disadvantage of becoming inundated when worked 
at a small depth. No doubt that they could be drained and work- 
ed with great profit. 

Good quicksilver mines were also worked in this district until 
the year 1853, when this metal was abundantly produced by the 
new Almaden California mines. 

HISTORICAL NOTICE OF THE MINING DISTRICT OF CHARCAS. 

The town was founded in the year 1 574 by Don Juan de Ofiate 
Moctezuma, great-grandson of the emperor of the same name. It 



128 

was burned by the wild Indians in 1 583, and was removed to the 
present site. It is now situated about four leagues west of the old 
town. In the year 1 574, the mines of San Cristobal, situated about a 
league south of the old town, were discovered. Their ores were easily 
reduced by smelting. These mines were abandoned soon after their 
discovery, on account of becoming inundated. In 1 583, at the 
time that the town was removed to its present site, other valuable 
mines were discovered in the neighborhood. Large quantities of 
metal were taken from them — ^mostly argentiferous lead. In the 
year 1600, the mines of San Carlos, El Sabino, Preasitas, Verganza, 
Sierpe, Coronado, and San Pedro were discovered. Out of the 
above mentioned mines belonging then to the jurisdiction of Char- 
cas only two were worked on a large scale — those of San Carlos 
and Sabino, the incursions of the Indians were a great drawback 
to their working. 



MINING DISTRICT OF RAMOS. 

It appears that the mines of Ramos were first worked about 
the year 1608, but were abandoned on account of a great Indian in- 
vasion of the country between the years 1636 and 1640, and were not 
reopened until the year 1796, when the rich mine of Cocinera was 
discovered, together with nine other mines situated on the same 
vein ; they were also abandoned, though paying well, on account 
of being inundated. The principal mines of the district were those 
of La Cocinera, San Juan, San Jose, San Vicente, Animas, Aura, 
Valenciana, San Geronimo, Cinco Senores, and San Nicolas. They 
produce native silver, red and blue silver, pirites, galena, and rose- 
color silver {Rosicler), The stream that floods these mines is 
abundant, and they only can be drained properly with steam- 
engines of great power. 



MINING DISTRICT OF OJO CALIENTE. 

In this district is situated the mountain of San Miguel, con- 
taining valuable quicksilver mines. 

Santa Maria del Pefion Blanco is a great salt mine, so rich 



129 

that the crown of Spain reserved it as a crown property. In 1868, 
it was the property of Don Joaquin Erraza. 

The mines of La Nevada discovered in .1858. San Pedro, La 
Pastora, and La Ventura are situated on lands belonging to the 
estate of El Salado. 

In the district of San Luis, the mountain of San Pedro and 
Bernalejo, 8 mines are actually worked and 66 are idle ; in the dis- 
trict of Catorce, 65 mines are worked and 26 are idle ; in the district 
of Charcas and Sabino, 8 mines are worked and 16 are idle ; in the 
district of Penon Blanco and Ramos there are 23 mines lying idle ; 
in the district of Guadacalzar, 18 mines are worked and 99 are idle 
— making a total, in the State of San Luis Potosi, of 90 mines 
worked, and 231 lying at present idle or abandoned. 



THE STATE OF SINALOA. 



The mines of this State contain gold, silver, copper and lead. 
The nchest are its gold mines, viz. : 

Bacuvirito. 

Chamelta, in the jurisdiction of Rosario. 

Charcas, m the jurisdiction of Rosario. 

Cosala. 

Culiacan, capital of the State, situated 60 miles from the Gulf 
of Cahfornia, on the River of Culiacan. 

Frailes. 

Guadaloupe de las Abas. 

Noxotal, 

Palo Blanco. * 

Panuco. 

Sivirijoa. 

Tacupeto. 

Todos Santos. 



130 

There is in this State 47 mineral districts containing 406 mines, 
36 gold placers, 9 salt mines, and 52 smelting works. (The limita- 
tion of this work does not permit us to give all the names of the 
different mines.) 



THE STATE OF SONORA. 



The State of Sonora has always been considered one of the 
richest in minerals of the Repubhc of Mexico. 

Immense masses of virgin iron are found in large veins in the 
Sierra Madre mountains and in the vicinity of the Colorado River. 
The mountain of Antunez, between the Sonora and Horcasitas 
rivers, north-east of the city of Aripe, and principally the Cananea, 
are renowned for the great quantity of copper they contain, which 
is of very good quality, and yields a large percentage of gold. 

Lead ore containing silver abounds in Aguacaliente, Alamo, 
Papagueria, Aripe and Cieneguilla. 

Sulphur of iron is found in abundance at San Xavier, San An- 
tonio, La Huerta, Cieneguilla and Aguacaliente. 

Silver is found in paying quantities in the districts of Topago, 
Saguaripa and Alamos. Among the most noted gold placers are 
the following : San Idelfonso, La Cieneguilla, San Francisco, Quito- 
vac, San Antonio, Sonoita, El Zoni, La Basura, San Perfecto, Las 
Palomas, El Alamo, El Muerto, and El Vado Seco, that have in 
former years produced immense wealth. In Cieneguilla and vicinity 
pieces of gold have been found weighing from one to twenty-seven 
marcs. 

According to the latest statistics the mineral productions of 
Sonora can be classified as follows : 

In the district of Hermosillo — silver, gold, lead, copper, salt, 
alum, and marble. 



131 

In the district of Guayamas — gold, silver, copper, salt, lead, 
alum, iron, sulphur, and marble. 

In the district of Ures — gold, silver, tin, iron, lime, gypsum, 
rock salt, precious stones, and topaz. 

In the district of Aripe — gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, tin, 
nitrate of potassium, rock salt, and marble. 

In the district of Alamos — gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, anti- 
mony, sulphur, salt, and marble. 

In the district of Altar — gold, silver, copper, iron, salt, sulphur, 
carbonate of soda, and marble. 

In the district of Sagiiaripa — gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, 
tin, alum, and antimony. 

In the district of Magdalena — gold, silver, iron, copper, lime, 
g}'psum, nitrate of potassium, and carbonate of soda. 

In the district of Oposura — gold, silver, copper, lead, nitrate of 
potassium, carbonate of soda, lime, gypsum, and marble. 

There are thirty-four mineral districts in the State, in which 
a great number of mines were abandoned for the want of security, 
as well as of labor and capital, but not on account of the low 
grade or lack of abundance of the ores. 

In the mining district of Alamos, the mines of Alamos produced 
in gold and silver, $146,236.61 ; the mines of Promontories, 
$61,128.92; the mines of Adriana, $37,415.34; the mines of Minas 
Viejas, $6,027.94, during the last six months from July to De- 
cember of 1880. 



132 



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134 

Mining district of San Bautista de Sonora — Santa Ana, El 
Rosano, and San Francisco, silver mines, and Cata de Agua, a 
copper mine. 

Mining district of Nocosari — La Cobriza, San Pedro, El 
Rosario, El Barrigon, all silver mines. 

Mining district of San Miguel — San Miguel and El Huacal, 
silver mines. 

Mining district of Toriquipa — Toriquipa and Santa Genoveva, 
silver mines. 

Mining district of Valenzuela — Valenzuela and San Ignacio. 

Mining district of Tobacachi — Tobacachi, San Pedro, and La 
Prieta. 

Mining district of San Miguel — Dagiiiro, Chumbarri, and 
Guadaloupe. 

Mining district of Promontorios — Promontorios. 

DISTICT OF ALTAR. 

The Rosefia mine, in the mining district of El Ploma; within 
the tv^enty border leagues on the frontier of Arizona. The lead 
runs from east to west, is 75 centimetres wide, and its inclination is 
4.0°. It produces gold and bronze silver. 

La Descubridera mine, is situated also within the twenty border 
leagues. The lead runs from north to south, its width varies from 
28 centimetres to i metre 12 centimetres, and its inclination is 20°. 
It produces gold, silver and lead— $16.00, gold ; $82.00, silver, 
and 72 per cent, of lead to the ton. 

The mine of Cerro del Oro, in the mining district of San An- 
tonio, situated as the above. The lead runs from east to west, its 
width varies from two to two and a-half metres, and its inclination 
is 35^. It produces $26.00, gold ; $56.00, silver, and 70 per cent, 
of lead per ton. 

The Mina Vieja de Oro, in the mining district of San Antonio. 
The lead runs from east to west. It produces gold about $40.00 to 
the ton. The lead is 74 centimetres wide, with an inchnation of 50°. 

The mine of Rebosadero, also in the mining district of San 
Antonio. The lead runs from south-east to north-west, with a width 
varying from 56 centimetres to one metre and 40 centimetres, with 
an inclination of 20°. Its produce average $15.00 to the ton. 

The Cobrisa mine, also in the same mining district. The course 



135 

of its lead is east and west ; its width one metre, with an inclina- 
tion of 35°. It produces gold averaging $25.00 to the ton of ore. 

La Providencia mine, in the same mining district. The course 
of its lead is north and south ; its width averages a metre, with an 
inclination of 35*^. It produces gold, silver, copper and lead ; 
yielding $8.00, gold ; $40.00, silver ; $20.00, copper, and $2.00 of 
lead per ton of ore. All these metals are smelted at the works 
estabHshed in said mining district. 

Mine of Rosario, in the mining district of Sonoita. Its lead 
runs from south to north ; being 56 centimetres in width, which 
sometimes reaches i metre 25 centimetres. It produces silver 
averaging $180.00 to the ton. 

Mine of San Francisco, in the mining district of the same name. 
The course of its lead is from south to north, with a width varying 
from 28 to 84 centimetres ; its inclination is 55°. It produces gold 
averaging $40.00 to the ton. 

Mine of Rosales, in the mining district of San Antonio. Its 
lead runs from south to north, with a width varying from 28 centi- 
metres to one metre ; its inclination is 35^. It produces gold aver- 
aging $30.00 to the ton. 

Mine of San Francisco, in the mining district of El Corazon. 
Course of lead, from south to north ; width, two and a-half metres ; 
inclination, 65^. It produces gold and silver ores averaging $20.00, 
gold, and 56.00, silver, per ton. 

The Mine Grande, in the mining district of Juares. Its vein 
runs from south-east to north-west, with a width that varies from 84 
centimetres to 3 metres, 36 centimetres, with an inclination 35*^. 
It produces gold and silver averaging $50.00, gold, and $15.00, sil- 
ver, per ton. 

The Mina Juares, in the mining district of the same name. The 
course of its lead is from south-east to north-west, with a width 
varying from 84 centimetres to i metre 68 centimetres ; with an 
inclination of 65°. It produces silver ore averaging $30.00 to 
the ton. 

The mine of San Felix is also situated in the mining district of 
Juares, near the coast, 56 leagues from the frontier. The course of 
its lead is from north to south ; its width varying from 56 centi- 
metres to I metre 68 centimetres; its inclination is 15". It pro- 
duces silver ores yielding from $35.00 to $200.00 per ton. 



136 

Total number of mines worked at present in the district of 
Altar : 



Mining District. 

Plomo, 


No. 
2 


Mining District. 

Corzon, . 


No. 
I 


San Antonio, . 


6 


Juares, 


I 


Sonoita, 


2 


In all, . 


12 



IN THE DISTRICT OF ARISPE. 

The mine of San Fernando is situated five kilometres west of 
the village of Sinoguipe. The course of its lead is from east to west ; 
its width, two metres, and its inclination, 7 5*^. It produces silver 
ores averaging $80.00 per ton. Its ores are worked by the Lixivia- 
tion process. 

The mine of Santa Elena, situated six kilometres west of the 
village of Banamichi. The course of its lead is from east to west, 
with a width varying from 50 centimetres to two and a-half metres, 
and sometimes five metres. It produces gold and silver. Its ores 
average $25.00 per ton — four parts gold and one of silver. 



THE STATE OF TAMAULIPAS. 

The mines of this State are not worked for want of capital, and 
on account of the indifference which the inhabitants show to the 
development of that branch of industry ; notwithstanding this, the 
few persons engaged in mining in this State during the five years 
elapsing between 1844 and 1848, took out of them 7,680 marcs of 
silver, valued at $61,440. 

There are six mining districts in this State which are known 
under the following names, viz. : San Nicolas, San ]os6, Busta- 
mente. El Zique, La Miquihuana and Villagran. 

San Nicolas has twenty-five abandoned mines, known as San 
Nicolas, Santa Salome, Remedios, San Gayetano, Santa Gidirina, 
Santa Gertrudes, Espiritu Santo, Animas, Soledad, San Augustin, 
La Mejora, Toyagua, Pilar, San Jos6, San Roman, La Cruz, La 
Estaca, San Miguel, Dolores, La Luz, El Teniente, La Corrolena, 
La Mexicana, Las Hormigas and the Tres Candelarias ; four are 



137 

now worked, which are those of La Trinidad, Providencia, Fastores 
and Colorada. 

The ore of these mines is extracted by men known in Mexico 
as " buscones " or searchers, who then sell it to the smelters. 

The Miquihuana district has four abandoned mines known as 
Mina Verde, a copper mine ; and San Cajetano, Refugio and Pro- 
montorio, silver mines. 

The mine of El Zigiie or La Muralla contains lead and silver; 
the depth of its shaft is 138 feet. Alabaster also abounds in these 
mines. 

The mining district of Bustamente, originally known as Infantes, 
has twelve abandoned mines, known as Santa Ana, Cinco Senores, 
Guadaloupe, San Rafael, Nuestra Sefiora del Refugio, San Simon 
and Judas, San Cayetano and Promontorio, all silver mines ; Mina 
Verde, of copper, and La Ascencion, Dulce Nombre de Maria, 
Santo Nino de Atocha, lead mines. Judging from the duties that 
these mines paid to the Spanish crown, they must have been very rich. 

The mining district of Villagran, known when first discovered 
as Real de Borbon, contains gold and silver mines, which have been 
abandoned many years ago. In the stretch of country situated be- 
tween the towns of San Carlos, Morelos, Guerrero and Camargo, 
are found copper ore, and in the vicinity of the two latter places, 
coal mines ; about Guerrero, red ochre and red lead. 

In the vicinity of Omillas, alabaster of fine quality is found. 
About Santa Ana of Tamaulipas, a fine quality of jasper marble 
abounds. 

In the vicinity of Aldama, silver, copper and iron ores are 
found ; also good slate quarries. 

In the vicinity of Victoria, iron ore of good quality is found. 



THE STATE OF ZACATECAS. 

This State is considered as the first in the Republic of Mexico 
for its mineral productions. It would take a volume to attempt to 
describe its mineral wealth. Below we give the names of some of 
its most important mineral districts. 



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" 143 

MINING DISTRICT OF FRESNILLO. 

This mining district is next in importance to that of Veta 
Grande, in the State of Zacatecas. The Cerro of Proano, which is 
the principal mining point, is worked since the eighteenth century ; 
it is located south of the city of Fresnillo, and is about 850 metres 
long and 650 wide, and only 100 metres above the surrounding 
country, which is 2,368 metres above the sea. This little hill con- 
tains within its bosom more than 100 metallic veins ; some of 
them have been worked to a considerable depth. In the same 
plain, at a distance of about two leagues from Fresnillo, are situ- 
ated the hills of Animas, San Demetreo, and Bueno Aires, in 
which are found the mines of Plataros. 

The principal mines of Proano are the following: Betena, 
Barranco, Obscura, Epasote, Salcedo, Colorado, Santo Domingo, 
Valdenegros, Barbosa, San Pedro, Valencia, Plateritos, San Nicolas, 
Espiritu Santo, Rosario, Amarilla, Tiro Nuevo, and Santa Ifigenia. 



MINING DISTRICT OF SOMBRERETE. 

This rich mining district was discovered by Juan de Tolsa in 
1555. It has had its ups and downs, having been in bonanzas 
several times. 

Until 1792 the rich products of the mines of Veta Negra and 
Pabellon gave the mining district great renown, placing it among 
the first in Mexico. 

Sombrerete is situated in a Canada near the boundary of the 
State, on the road to Durango, 36 leagues northwest of the City of 
Zacatecas, at an elevation of 2,369 metres above the level of the sea, 
and comprises the following mining districts : Sombrerete and La 
Nona, El Chacuaco, Chapultepec, Minollas, Chalchiquihuite, El 
Manto and Colorado. 

In the conical hill del Pabellon, which rises above the plain 
north of Sombrerete, in a southeast to northwest direction, almost 
in a parallel line, are found the veins of El Pabellon and Veta 
Negra. Many mines, mostly abandoned, have been opened, and 
from them gold, silver, lead, copper and iron have been ex- 
tracted, besides many other substances such as sulphur, antimony. 



143 

arsenic and copperas, whose combination have presented to the 
miner great difficulties for the extraction of silver. The principal 
cause of abandonment of these mines has been the difficulties 
encountered to work their ores. The principal mines situated on 
the vein of Pabellon which has an extension of three kilometres are 
the following : La Concordia, Aranzaza, Arrete, Santa Gertrude, 
La Cruz, El Carmen, El Oriste, San Juan Bautista, Soledad, San 
Nicolas del Arroyo, Tiro General de San Francisco, San Nicolas de 
la Cruz, La Esperanza, Quebradilla, Santo Catuna, Refugio, San 
Amaro, Santo Domingo, La Joya, Cata Rica, Cruz de Moros, San 
Jose de la Llanada. 

The temperature at Sombrerete averages iS*' to 20". Six mines 
are actually worked (1881) and seventy-seven are abandoned. 

These mines produce gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, tin and 
copperas. 

MINING DISTRICT OF CHALCHIHUITES. 

This mining district was also discovered by Juan de Tolsa, 
about the same time as that of Sombrerete. It is situated south, 
eight and a-half leagues from the latter mining district. It 
contains numerous mines of lead silver, which metal is easily 
smelted. Its mines are the following : 

Working— Arellana, Santa Teresa, La Purisima, La Trinidad, 
Las Canoas, Chuza, Sangre de Cristo. 

Worked by searchers {buscones) — Santa Eduwigis, San Pedro, 
El Manzanillal, La Vidriosa^ San Francisco el Duro, San Francisco 
el Blando, Candelaria, Manto, Guadaloupe, Tajos de los Marciales, 
Colorado, Santo Domingo, Todos Santos, San Antonio, El Capu- 
lines, Guantes. 

The ores of the above mines are worked in seven smelting 
works, and three patio or cold amalgamation works, all located 
within the mining district. 



MINING DISTRICT OF NIEVES. 

This old mining district and town, seat of the same, is situ- 
ated 45 leagues northwest of Zacatecas, at the foot of a range of 
mountains running from south to north, whose principal peaks are 



144 

those of El Calvario, Las Cabras, Colorado. This range of moun- 
tains is situated on the same plain, south of which extend the 
mineral lands of this district and comprises the veins of Potrero, El 
Tapon, El Rosario and Santa Rita, all running from east to west. 
The following mines are situated in this district, but it is not 
known whether they are at present (1882) in operation, viz.: 
Santa Rita, Guadaloupe, San Francisco, El Cristo, El Patrocinio, 
Seriollaga, San Jose, San Nicolas, San Joaquin, San Antonio, 
Dolores, La Cruz, San Pedro, San Cayetano, Collachi, Guadaloupe, 
Marquito, San Antonio, Tiburona, Dolores and San Joaquin 



MINING DISTRICT OF SAN MIGUEL DEL MEZQUITAL. 

This mining district is situated 59 leagues N. W. of the city of 
Zacatecas. 

Its mines are those of San Jos^, Santa Catarina, Tajo de 
Berun, La Bejareiia, El Pabellon, Las Navajas, Animas, Guada- 
loupe, Pozo de Santa Ana, La Blanca, Tiro del Calvario, El Guije^ 
La Prieta, El Burro, El Corral, Tapetes. 

There is no definite information as to which of the above 
mines are at present worked or abandoned. 

MINING DISTRICT OF MAZAPIL. 

In the northeast portion of the State of Zacatecas, which ad- 
joins Coahuila, and at a distance of 70 leagues from the capital, rise 
several chains of mountains which are considered of great impor- 
tance, on account of the large number of metallic veins that they 
contain, whose ores can easily be worked at but Httle expense. The 
principal chains are the following : Masapil in the center of this 
group of mountains ; those of Zuloaga, Pozo, Guadaloupe, Potrero 
and others that unite on the south with those of Piquita and Sierra 
Hermosa. In the above mentioned group of mountains are found 
old mining districts which have produced immense wealth. Such 
are Mazapil, Albarradon and Bonanza, in the northeast ; Cedros 
in the west, Concepcion del Oro in the east, and El Rosario 
in the southeast. Besides the cordilleras or chains of mountains 
above mentioned, others are found more distant from Mazapil ; 



145 

west of that of Novillos, and actually known and worked as tii-j 
mine of Pico de Teyra. 

The section of country above referred to was inhabited by the 
Chichimec Indians until the latter part of the XVI century, at which 
time it was occupied by the conquerors. In 1612 Mazapil was made 
an Alcaldia Mayor and in 1786 was created a district of the pro- 
vince of Zacatecas with the boundaries which it has retained to this 
day. In the district of Concepcion del Oro are two very rich mines, 
those of San Jos6 and Santa Eduwigis, producing gold and silver 
ores easily worked. 

It is generally known that these mines produce silver, copper, 
lead and gold : the principal of these are : Animas del Norte, 
Malcriado ; La Cruz, San Pedro, El Abra, Aranzaza, San Antonio, 
El Placer, Albaradon, San Gregorio, Cuevas, Purisima, Catasillas, 
Alicante, La Cata Oportuna in Cedros, El Potrero. And in the 
district of Concepcion del Oro, San Jose and Santa Eduwigis. 

MINING DISTRICT OF PINOS. 

About 30 leagues east of the city of Zacatecas is found the 
mining district of Pinos. Its principal mines are : Cata Nava, 
San Rafael, Aposentillo, Carmen, Santa Gertrudis, Quebradilla, 
Mina Grande, Santo Nino, Cara de Pcrro, Animas, Don Julian, Do- 
lores, Cinco Senores, Ave Maria, Almirante, Sapo Pinto, San Igna- 
cio, Santa Brijida, Santa Anita, Sacramento, Purisima, Reyes, Za- 
catecas, San Matias, Afiijidos, San Miguel, Santiago, Restaurado- 
ra, Valenciana, Cueva Santa, San Bias, Coyotes, San Antonio, Gua- 
iupito, Tinajas, Mala Noche, Cucurrasola, Popula, Gloria, Gongora, 
Campana, Tepozan, San Pedro, Mina Blanca, Concepcion del Oro, a 
very rich gold district, Guadaloupe, Tunel of El Oro, Santa Marga- 
rita, San Luisito, San Felix, Patrocinio, Lobena, Doncellas, San Ni- 
colas, Bemalejo, Trinidad, El Escarbadero, Estano, Sacramento de 
Cascarona, San Francisco, Merced, Derrumbadero, de Ahualula, La 
Garriga, Maravilla, Refugio, Esperanza del Picacho, Guadaloupe 
de Agostadero, La Providencia, La Luz, Ahualulco, Capulin, Pena 
del Colorado, Jocoqui, San Miguel de Agostadero, Maravillas de 
Agua Gorda, Los Narcisos, Purisima de Ahualulco, San Jose, Co- 
llazo, Angostura, San Pedro and San Pablo, San Juan, Santa Rosa 
de Ahualulco, Candelaria. 



146 

MINING DISTRICT OF NOVIA DE ANGELES. 

This mining district is situated 22 leagues east-south-east from 
the city of Zacatecas and 12 leagues west of the Town of Pinos. 
Its principal mines are : Santo Cristo, San Antonio, Cata Rica, 
San Juan, El Nino, San Jos6, Mina Grande, Aurora, Purisima, 
Jesus Maria, Mantos, Belen, Atanasia, San Francisco, Guadaloupe, 
San Antonio, La Cumbre, Dolores ; all situated in the Cerro de los 
Angeles. 

MINING DISTRICT OF MEZQUITAL DEL ORO. 

The only information we have of this old mining district is that 
it is situated 18 leagues south-west of the town of Tuchipila, founded 
in 1732, about the time a rich gold vein was discovered. Its owners 
obtained very profitable results up to the year 1741. The bonanza 
having given out, the inhabitants dedicated themselves to the 
pursuit of agriculture. 

THE STATE OF CHIAPAS. 

No mines appear to be worked at present, although several sil- 
ver mines were worked to advantage in olden times. Trementon, 
native load stone (magnet) is found ; also sulphur in the vicinity of 
the town of San Bartolom^ and in several springs situated in the 
southern portion of the State. In the neighborhood of the capital 
of the State, San Cristoval, lead and iron ores are found ; also 
a s.ort of transparent fossil formation called in Spanish talco, 

IN THE STATE OF COLIMA. 
I The \ fining District of Tuliapan. 

THE STATE OF VERA CRUZ. 

Somelahuacan, a rich copper mine. 

THE STATE OF YUCATAN. 

This State has never been well explored, but it is known that 
gypsum and a great variety of marbles are found in quantities. 



I 



147 

THE TERRITORY OF LOWER CALIFORNIA. 

This vast territory is rich in minerals as are also some of the 
islands situated along its coasts. 

In the municipality of La Paz are 3 gold, 7 silver, i diamond 
and 2 copper mines. 

In the municipality of San Antonio are 16 gold mines, 3 gold 
placers, 42 silver mines, 3 of copper, i of lead, and 2 of lime. 

In the municipality of Todos Santos are i^^silver, i copper and 
I lime mine. 

In the municipality of Santiago are 3 gold, 8 silver, 2 copper, 2 
gypsum, I stone coal, i lime, and 3 sulphur mines. 

In the municipality of San Jos6 del Cabo are found i silver mine 
and two other mines whose mineral products are not given. 

In the municipality of Muleg6 there are 5 silver, 28 copper 
I lead, 2 marble, 3 gypsum, i sulphate of lime, and seven more mines 
whose products are not specified. 

In the municipality of Comondu are 2 gold mines, 3 silver, 14 
copper, I of gypsum, i of lime and 17 whose products are not 
specified. 

In the municipality of Santo Tomas are 2 sulphur, i salt-peter, 
I fine quarry, i gold and 3 other mines whose products are not 
specified. 

The following are the mines actually worked in the mining dis- 
trict of Santa Agueda in the municipality of Mulege : Esperanza, 
Santa Rosalia, Fortuna, Reforma, Lucifer, Soledad, Providencia, A, 
Humboldt, Los Angeles, Nochebuena, San Juan, F^, Gloria, Igual- 
dad, Santa Rita, Titulo Octavo, Caridad, Ley, Libertad, Purisima, 
San Francisco, Purgatorio, Republicana, Porvenir, Abundancia and 
Hallazgo. 

In old times Lower California was celebrated for its pearl 
fisheries, but it would take a whole volume to describe the placers 
and pearl fisheries of the territory. One pearl was sent to King 
Philip the Second that weighed 250 qtiilates and was estimated to 
be worth %\ 50,000. 

STONE-COAL. 

Coal of good quality is known to exist in the following localities 
which will some day, when reached by railroads, prove a great 



148 

source ot wealth and will materially aid in developing the industries 
of the country, viz.: 

The Cerro del Ocre, State of Puebla. 

Rancho del Tiber, Zacatula. 

Tantoyuquita, State of Tamaulipas. 

Tezontla. 

Hacienda de la Imagen. 

Cerro de Chimatitlan, near Tepic, in the State of Jalisco 

Laguna de Enmedio, Tetipac. 

Patatlan, Galeana. 

South of the City of Cuhacan, in the State of Sinaloa. 

Tancauhuitz, State of Tamaulipas, near the port of Tampico. 

Chilpancingo, in the State of Guerrero. 

Santa Marta, Tepehi de la Seda. 

Tlalnepantla, near the City of Mexico, State of Mexico. 

Huehuetlan. 

Orizava, State of Vera Cruz. 

Ixhuatlan, Isthmus of Tehuantepec. 

E spinal. State of Vera Cruz. 

Juchi, near Chalco Valley of Mexico. 

Rancho de Copula, Teziutlan. 

Zomelehuacan, Zacapoaxtla. 

On the Panuco River, State of Tamaulipas. 

In the Sierra Madre mountains, in the State of Nuevo Leon, 
and will probably be found in abundance in many other points of 
the mountains which are to-day unknown. 

PETROLEUM. 

Petroleum has been found in the following localities and 
neighborhoods, viz. : 

Guadaloupe Hidalgo, Federal District of Mexico. J 

Puerto Angel, State of Oaxaca. * 

P«»chutla, State of Oaxaca. 

Cantarranas, near Huejutla. 

Cerro del Ocre, State of Puebla. 

Hacienda de Santa Ana, Tenancingo. 

Tantoyuca. 

San Pedro de las Vaquerias, near Atotonileo el grande. 






149 

De Moloacan a Tabasco, State of Tabasco. 
Cerro Coapinoloaya. 
Minatitlan. 
Rancho del Baldwin. 
Hacienda de Almagres, Acayucan. 
Sayula, Acayucan. 
Tamapache, Tuxpan. 
Huehuetlan. 

La Estrella, north of the City of Puebla. 
Casa de Llora, west of the City of Puebla. 
Tierras de San Antonio, north-west of the City of Puebla. 
Niscomel el Grande, north-west of the City of Puebla. 
Rancho de Posadas, north-west of the City of Puebla. 
San Francisco, north-west of the City of Puebla. 
San Fernando, Macuspana, State of Tabasco. 
Mascalapa, State of Tabasco. 
Near Lake Tigre, State of Tabasco. 
Cerro del Espinal, near the river of the same name. 
Chapopote, Aldama District. 
Tomatitas, near Tuxpan. 
Tranhuigo, near Tuxpan. 
Rancho del Cura Osorio, near Tuxpan. 
Rancho de Juan Felipe, near Tuxpan. 
Rincon de las Minas, near Mapimi. 
Ceroncitos, west of Aldama. 

Casa de la Pila, to the left of road leading to Toluca. 
In the neighborhood of Juchi District of Chalco, Valley of 
Mexico. 

Mesa de San Diego, Huachinango, State of Vera Cruz. 

Potrero de Otapa. 

Jalapilla, near Papantla. 

Rancho de Copula, State of Puebla. 

Cerro de Zacapoaxtla, State of Puebla. 

Macuipana, State of Tabasco. 

El Limon, State of Tabasco. 

Ixhuatlan, near Tehuantepec. 

Paquatatempa, State of Puebla. 

El Cedral, 2 wells, State of Vera Cruz, 

Ell Jaguar, 6 wells. State of Vera Cniz. 



150 

El E spinal, State of Vera Cruz. 

According to assays of Mexican petroleum, made by Doctor 
Manfred, it is estimated that every three pounds of i6 ounces 
or every 48 ounces, produces 44 ounces of oil, 2j^ ounces of w^ater, 
and I Yz of coke. 

The consumption of the Republic of Mexico amounts yearly to 
more than half a million of dollars, and is daily increasing. 



AMERICAN SILVER MINING IN CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO. 

For centuries Chihuahua has ranked among the most famous 
Mexican States for the production of silver ; but, for various reasons 
useless to enumerate here, it w^as not until lately that the energies 
of Americans have been directed to this rich region. 

There are now in the State of Chihuahua, at work and organ- 
ized for work, no less than ten American companies owning and 
controlling the richest and best mining property in the State. Nine 
of them have been organized within the last fifteen months. A 
brief mention of these is all that will be attempted at present. 

THE SANTA EULALIA MINES. 

The Santa Eulalia Mining Company owns the mines of Santa 
Eulalia, sixteen miles from the City of Chihuahua. 

Under Spanish rule these mines paid to the Catholic church a 
tax on %i II, 000,000. 

They are, without doubt, the most extensive deposit mines in 
the world. Owing to a want of capital they are still being worked 
by the ancient methods used by the Mexicans. The company pro- 
poses soon to tunnel the mountain, build a railroad twelve miles long 
to the fork of the Sacramento and Chihuahua rivers, and there es- 
tablish large works for the reduction of ores by modem methods. 

THE CUSIHUIRIACHIC MINES. 

These mines were purchased last fall by a company from San 
Francisco for the comparatively trifling sum of $500,000. These 
mines are situated ninety miles south-west from the City of Chihua- 



( 



151 

hua. The records do not show their former wealth, but it is 
known to have been great. The veins are true fissures, containing 
at the depth of 600 feet soHd metal in some places fifteen feet 
wide, averaging nearly $100.00 per ton. The ores are now being 
reduced by the lixiviation process with excellent results. 

SIERRA RICA MINES. 

The Rich Mountain Mining Company, of New York, have pur- 
chased the Sierra Rica mines, located about thirty miles south of 
Presidio del Norte, on the Rio Grande, for $150,000, and propose to 
erect reduction works at the very earliest date. 

THE CORRALITAS MINES. 

The Corralitas mining Company, of New York, have purchased 
the famous Corralitas mines, situated 200 miles north of the Chi- 
huahua, for the sum of $350,000, and will soon have their works in 
operation at a cost of over $500,000, including the price of mines. 

THE BATOPILAS MINES. 

Are situated in the south-west part of the State, owned and 
operated b,y Wells, Fargo & Co., they contain large deposits of 
native silver and are enriching their owners. The record shows that 
under Spanish rule they produced $400,000,000. Humboldt said 
that their wealth was inexhaustible. 

THE MINE OF LA GABILANA. 

The Chihuahua Silver Mining Company, of Logansport, India- 
na, have secured the rich mine of La Gabilana, situated about eighty 
miles south of the city of Chihuahua, and will establish their works 
as soon as they can get their machinery on the grounds. These 
truly famous mines were worked by the Jesuits until about the year 
1687, at which time they were driven out of the country by the 
Spanish Government, and owing to the fact that this section of Mexi- 
co was until within a very few years in possession of the Indians, 
the mines have remained undeveloped until secured by the above 
named company. 



152 
THE CONSOLIDATED MINES OF HIDALGO OR PARRAL. 

The consolidated mines of Hidalgo or Parral, owned by the 
Knott's Company, of Chicago, are situated in the city of Hidal- 
go or Parral. Their record shows that they have produced 
$60,000,000. They are true fissure veins, aggregating in length 
three-fourths of a mile, with a width of from six to thirty feet. The 
last six years' working by the Mexicans yielded over $900,000, the 
ore averaging $81.00 per ton. These mines have been worked only 
at a depth of little over 400 feet. 

This company claims that they own a larger body of good 
paying ore than any other company in the world. 

The Philadelphia Mining Company have located their works 
three miles west of El Parral or Hidalgo, on the Parral river, and 
have secured several valuable mines in the immediate vicinity, and 
improved the river, for the purpose of obtaining water-power for 
their works. Their buildings are completed at a cost of about 
$30,000, and when their entire works are fitted with machinery, 
which will be at an early date, it will cost not less than $250,000. 

THE MINE OF LA LUZ. 

The Dry Mountain Silver Mining Company of Terre Haute, 
Indiana, owns the mine of La Luz, situated four miles from Parral. 
This is one of the best mines in the district of Parral. It is a 
true fissure vein, nine feet in width, yielding from $20 to $100 
per ton. 

The Company propose to secure good water-power which is 
accessible to them, and establish large works for the reduction of 
ores. Having no water to contend with, the cost of mining will 
be comparatively small. 

LAS GIJAS MINES. 

The Hidalgo Mining and Power Company, of Chicago, owns 
the mine of Las Gijas, in the dry mountain, five miles west of Par- 
ral, which is celebrated for having at one time produced a large 
pocket of native silver. 

This company propose to establish works for the reduction of 
the castaway ores of the Knott's Company, and do a general custom 



153 

business; they also propose to establish a foundry and machine 
shop in Parral. 

THE MINES OF EL DULCE NOMBRE, LA SANTA NIJJA AND 
SAN JUAN. 

The Chihuahua Silver Mining Company, organized at Logans- 
port, State of Indiana, for the purpose of working the Gabilana 
mines, situated in the Gabilana mountain, eighty miles from the City 
of Chihuahua, in the canton of Victoria, State of Chihuahua. This 
company owns three mines — that of El Duke Nombre, La, Santa 
Nina, and San Juan. Each mine is half a mile in length by one 
or to two hundred yards in width, and veins when opened are from 
six to fourteen feet in width. 

The mines of this company are situated in the same range of 
mountains as the famous Cusihuiriachic, Batopilas, and Morelos 
mines, from which millions have been extracted. El Dulce Nombre 
was worked by the Jesuits about the year 1787. Fine specimens 
from these mines assayed by Don Manuel Merino, assayer of the 
mint of Chihuahua, with the following result : 

Specimen No. i, assay in silver, . . . ^112 00 per ton. 

" " 2, " " ... 112 00 " 

" •' 3, " " ... 380 00 " 

" " 4» " " ... 440 GO ' 

" 5, " " ... 1,612 50 



MINING IN NUEVO LEON. 

THE ANGLO-TEXAS-MEXICAN MINING AND SMELTING CO. 

Officers of the Company. — As we understand the matter, this 
Company is incorporated and organized under the laws of Texas, 
and with its headquarters in Houston, Harris Co., Texas, with the 
following well known persons as officers : 

A. C. Schryver, of San Antonio, President ; W. A. Taylor, of 



154 

Waco, Vice-President ; I. C. Stafford, of Houston, Treasurer ; A- 
W. Guifford, of San Antonio, Secretary. 

Prospectus of the Company and location of its works, — The 
company's works and smelters are now located at the town Villal- 
dama, in the State of Nuevo Leon. It is a prosperous little city» 
romantically situated at the foot of the mountains, on the bank of the 
river of the same name, in the center of a rich mining country. It 
has an industrious population of four thousand people, all Mexicans 
favorably disposed toward Americans and American capital and 
enterprise for the development of their mines. Its distance from La- 
redo, on the Rio Grande, is one hundred and thirty-five miles south- 
west ; from Monterey, the capital of the State, seventy-nine miles 
north. The town was founded as a mining settlement in 1646, and 
called Mineral de San Pedro Boca de Leones — meaning the mining 
district of St. Peter of the Lion's Mouth. In April, 1826, its name 
was changed to San Pedro de Villaldama — St. Peter of Villaldama 
— in honor of the Mexican patriot, Licenciado Don Ignacio Alda- 
ma, who was arrested at San Antonio, Tex., while on his way to 
the United States as special envoy of the leader of the Mexican 
revolutionist, Hidalgo, taken to Monclova, then the capital of Coa- 
huila, and shot by the Royalists, in July, 181 1. 

Property of company. — This company now owns first-class ma- 
chinery for crushing and smelting forty tons of ore per day, consist- 
ing of two boilers, two engines, one roaster, three smelters, diamond 
drill capacity three thousand feet, set of Howe scales, and saw mill 
capacity of ten thousand feet of lumber per day, together with the 
following mines : Chihuahua, with an inferior tunnel of five hu'hdred 
feet, and a well-defined vein of galena ore, running from three to nine 
feet in width, and carrying from forty to sixty ounces of silver to the 
ton. This mine was considered by the Spaniards as one of the best in 
the district, and was abandoned after striking fifteen feet of water. 
The company have machinery to take the water from this mine in 
thirty days. — Coayache containing a valuable vein of earth ore, run- 
ning from one to three feet wide, which produces from two hundred 
to three hundred and fifty ounces of silver to the ton. — To make this 
mine valuable and profitable a tunnel from two hundred to five 
hundred feet must be constructed lower down the mountain. More- 
no containing a rich vein of galena ore, carrying silver running from 
one to three feet in width, producing from two hundred to three 



155 

hundred dollars silver to the ton. The Farandula was known by 
the Spaniards as the richest mine in the district, but was abandoned 
because of striking ore which they could not reduce by their crude 
Mexican machinery. The works and machinery of the company 
are especially adapted for working the ores of this mine and will 
undoubtedly yield for them an immense bonanza. 

The company has secured for the erection of their works all 
the lands they needed from the municipality of Villaldama. 

THE ROSARIO MINING COMPANY. 

The Rosario Mining Company of the Republic of Mexico was 
organized at Dallas, Texas, by Jules Randle, Esq., of Brenhani, 
with a capital stock of $2,640,000. The officers elected for the 
present year are : John Martin, President ; Jules Schumacher, 
Vice-president ; J. L. Leonard, Secretary and Treasurer ; S. O. 
Heminway, General Superintendent, and Srs. Licenciado Ygnacio 
Galindo, Federal Judge for the State of Nuevo Leon, Don Jos6 
Maria Garza, Don Jose Maria Fernandez, of Mexico, Jules A. Ran- 
dle, S. J. Adams, John Martin, Jas. H. Britton, and Jules Schneider, 
as Directors. 

This mine, w^hich is situated within six or eight miles of the 
flourishing town of Salinas Victoria, through which the Mexican 
Railway from Laredo to Monterey will soon pass, was worked for 
a period of 175 years, and only abandoned on account of Indian 
incursions. Its ores are what is called low grade ores, but are said 
to be abundant. 

The men that are at the head of this company are a guarantee 
of its success. They are all capitalists of high standing in Mexico 
and Texas. 



156 



RAILROADS IN MEXICO. 



LIST OF RAILROADS IN OPERATION DURING THE 
YEAR 1880. 

The Vera Cruz Railroad. — So7ne of the most important railroad 
charters granted by the Mexican Government. — Tariff rates. 
— Railroad connections with the United States. — Jay Gould's 
south-west system. — The International and Great Northern, 
and International and Interoceanic Railroad. — The New 
Yorky Texas and Mexican Railroad, better known as Count 
Telfeners road. — The Sunset Extension into Mexico, or Col. 
Pierce &* Huntington's roads. 



V 



RAILROADS IN OPERATION IN 1880. 



1. Mexican Railway, 

2. From Jalapa to Coatepec, 

3. " Esperanza to Tehuacan, . 

4. " Merida to Progreso, 

5. " Vera Cruz to Medallin, 

6. Ferrocaril de Hidalgo, . 

7. " de Zacatecas, 



Kilometers. 


Traction. 


423,620 


Steam. 


126,000 


Tramway, 


50,000 


<< 


32,000 


Steam. 


22,000 


" 


26,000 


Tramway 


6,500 


" 



» 



157 

8. From Celaya to Leon, . 

9. " Cuantitlan to Salto, . 

10. " Morelos, .... 

11. Tramways in the Federal District, . 

12. Other cross branches, 

13. Other branches to the baths, 

14. From Puebla to Cholula and Mata- 

mores de Izucar, .... 

15. From San Luis to Tampico, . 



THE VERA CRUZ RAILROAD. 



kilometers. 


Traction. 


60,000 


Steam. 


71,432 


« 


95,000 


« 


98,598 




16,428 




2.653 




15,617 




6,000 





The Mexican Railway Company presented at the annual meet- 
ing of the shareholders, held in the City of London, England, on 
the 29th of July, 1880, the following statement : 

Receipts for 1876, $2,175,000 

" 1877; 2,700,000 

1878 2,895,000 

1879, ..... 3,512,000 

" five months, 1880, .... 1,512,000 

Supposing that, for the remaining seven months of last year, 
the returns have been in the same proportion, it will give for the 
year 1880, $3,628,000, which is the largest amount that has been 
received. 

The Vera Cruz Railway and Puebla branch are, together, 292 
miles long. The cost of construction was, for various reasons, 
excessive, yet its bonds and preferred stocks are at a premium on 
the market. — 



158 



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161 



SKETCH OF SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RAILROAD 
CHARTERS GRANTED BY THE MEXICAN GOVERN- 
MENT TO AMERICAN COMPANIES. 

Contract made between the Department of Public Works, 
representing- the Executive, and Messrs. Sebastian Camacho 
and Ramon G. Guzman, representatives of the Mexican Central 
Railway Company (limited), for a railroad to be constructed from 
the City of Mexico to Leon, connecting with the City of Queretaro, 
Celaya, Salamanca, Irapuato, Guanajualto and Silao ; from Leon, 
connecting with Aguascalientes, Zacatecas and Chihuahua, and 
from any convenient point between the cities of Mexico and Leon 
to any port on the Pacific coast, and connecting en route with the 
City of Guadalajara. This road is to be of standard gauge. The 
charter extends during the period of ninety-nine years ; the Govern- 
ment having to pay, in this case, cash upon the valuation to be 
made, as in other cases already stated, of all property of the com- 
pany except the road-bed and structures comprising it. If the Gov- 
ernment determine to sell or rent the road, the company to have 
the preference in either case. The line from Mexico to Leon to be 
finished on December 31st, 1882 (a very short time) ; the line to the 
Pacific within five years, and to Paso del Norte within eight years 
after the conclusion of the road from Mexico to Leon. A bond of 
$250,000 to be deposited in the City of Mexico. 

Contract between the Executive and James Sullivan, represen- 
tative of the National Mexican Construction Company, for the con- 
struction and operation of a narrow-gauge railroad from the City of 
Mexico to the Pacific ocean at the port of Manzanillo or Navidad, 
passing through Toluca, Maravatio, Acambaro, Morelia, Zamora 
and la Piedad, and from Mexico to the northern frontier, leaving 
the Pacific line between Maravatio and Morelia, and passing through 
the cities of San Luis Potosi, Saltillo and Monterey to any point on 
the Rio Grande between Laredo and Eagle Pass. This concession 
is for ninety-nine years, the Government obligating itself to pur- 
chase for cash, or rent or sell to the company as under the conces- 
sion of September 8th last. The line to the Pacific to be finished 
within five years, and that to the frontier within eight years from 
date of charter. A subvention granted of $7,5oo*per kilometre, or 



162 

$i2,o75 per mile, for the line from the City of Mexico to the Pacific, 
and $6,500 per kilometre, or $10,465 per mile, for that portion 
extending from the junction with the Pacific line to the northern 
frontier, to be paid out of the proceeds of four per cent, of the 
maritime and frontier custom duties, without interest, A subsidy 
granted of $9,500 per kilometre, or $15,295 per English mile, except 
when route adopted takes lines subsidized under other grants. 
Payment to commence after the construction of the first hundred 
and fifty kilometres, and paid in installments upon each succeeding 
fifty kilometres, except for those portions of the road already occu- 
pied by narrow-gauge roads, when the difference of $1,500 per 
kilometre, or $2,415 per mile, only will be paid, to be met out of an 
appropriation of six per cent, of the duties to be collected at all the 
maritime and frontier custom-houses of the Republic. The tarifl: 
for freight and passengers to be as authorized by act of Congress of 
June 1st, 1880. Length, 1,767 miles. Thirty miles of track laid 
north from the City of Mexico, and construction being pushed for- 
ward. Date of contract, September 8th, 1880. 

First payment to be made upon the completion of one hundred 
and fifty kilometres, and succeeding payments upon the comple- 
tion of each twenty-five kilometres. A bond of $300,000 in cash 
to be deposited in the City of Mexico, to remain on deposit until 
one hundred kilometres of road are constructed. 

The tariff rates fixed at the time of the granting of the charter ; 
to be revised every two years, as is generally provided for under all 
charters; but in every case the company is prohibited from 
increasing these rates under any circumstances. Length of 
main Hne and branch, 1,230 miles. Construction said to be 
going on rapidly. Date of contract, September 13th, 1880. 



THE INTERNATIONAL AND INTEROCEANIC RAILWAY CO. 

The Jay Gould South-west System of Railroads to connect with 
the City of Mexico and the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans in 
Mexico. 

The South-west system of roads consists of the Missouri Pacific, 
the Texas Pacific, the Missouri, Kansas and Texas, the Iron Moun- 
tain, the International and Great Northern, and the New Orleans 



163 

and Pacific. They comprise about 7,000 miles of line. They have 
all been placed under one head, with Mr. Gould as president of all 
the roads, with Mr. R. S. Hayes as vice-president and executive 
officer, with headquarters at St. Louis. The managers are A. A. 
Talmage, A. W. Soper, H. M. Hoxie. The general management 
of the seven roads has been reduced to one. Its eastern connection 
is through the Wabash, which connects with a line through Canada, 
reaching to the sea-board on one side, and a line south of the lakes 
reaching to New York on the other side, giving them two through 
outlets. These outlets are the Great Western of Canada, the Dela- 
ware and Lackawanna, and by means of the Pennsylvania road a 
link that connects with the New Jersey Central, which takes them 
to New York. This system of roads has obtained a charter from 
the Mexican Government under the name of the International and 
Interoceanic Railway Co. They are to run from Laredo to the 
City of Mexico via Guerrero, Mier Santander, Jimenes and Victoria 
in the State of Tamaulipas, and from Victoria via Jalancingo to the 
City of Mexico, with the option of building branches to Vera Cruz, 
to Tampico and Matamoros. This company is pushing the building- 
of their roads in Mexico at a rapide rate. This line is of easy 
construction from Laredo to Victoria. At the latter place it will 
have to go through mountain ranges, and will be more expensive to 
construct ; but as it will run through the " Huasteca " country, one 
of the richest portions of Mexico in natural and agricultural produc- 
tions and mineral wealth, as well as on account of its shortness, it 
will highly repay for the cost of its construction. 

This system, at the City of Mexico connects with the conces- 
sions obtained by General Grant, which is part of the same scheme. 
The connections extend from the City of Mexico via the City of 
Puebla to the City of Oaxaca, and is to connect with the trunk line 
which is to run almost due south from Vera Cruz to the Pacific, 
passing through the State and City of Oaxaca. 

THE NEW YORK, TEXAS AND MEXICAN RAIROAD, BETTER 
KNOWN AS COUNT TELFENER'S ROAD. 

The initial point of this line is at Rosenburg Junction, in 
Texas, via Wharton, Victoria, San Patricio and Banquete. It will 
reach Brownsville on the Rio Grande. 



164 

This company has lately obtained a charter from the Mexican 
Government to construct a road from Matamoros to Tampico in 
Tamaulipas. 

THE MEXICAN NATIONAL OR PALMER-SULLIVAN RAILROAD 
IN MEXICO (IN FEBRUARY, 1 882). 

Official reports, that are beyond a doubt, show that this com- 
pany is progressing as rapidly as possible in the construction of 
their lines, viz. : 

Toluca Division. 

22 kilometres of completed road. 
37 " graded. 

Maravatio Division. 

42 kilometres completely graded. 
55 " nearly graded. 

8 " completed road from Maravatio to Acambaro. 

Zacatecas Division. 

20 kilometres of completed road. 
12 " of graded road. 

Morelia Division. 

58 kilometres of road graded east. 
20 " of road graded west. 

Colima Division. 
31 kilometres of graded road. 

Laredo Division. 

40 kilometres of completed road. 

40 " of graded road. 

Making a total of 82 kilometres of road in running order and 
339 of graded road. Since writing the above the line from Laredo 
to Monterey has been completed through the town of Lampasas, 
to Villaldama and will be completed to Monterey by September 
next. 



165 



THE MEXICAN PACIFIC. 



The Mexican Pacific, which is an extension of the Galveston, 
Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway in Texas (or Sunset Route), 
connects at Houston with the New Orleans and Houston Railway ; 
also with the International and Great Northern, and at Rosenberg- 
Junction with the New York and Texas-Mexican, or Count Tel- 
fener's road, and the Galveston and Santa Fe Railway. It is con- 
structed through one of the prettiest portions of Western Texas. It 
is almost finished to Eagle Pass, on the Rio Grande, and is now 
the shortest and quickest route to the following points in Mexico : 
Piedras Negras (town opposite Eagle Pass), Monclova, Duran- 
go, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Queretaro and the City of Mexico. 

Within tv/o months it will be completed to El Paso, where it 
will connect with the Southern Pacific, and also with the Mexican 
Central road. When completed, which will be about 1883, it will 
be the main artery of travel and trade in Mexico. 

It is the intention of Cols. Pierce and Huntington to construct a 
railway which, starting from Eagle Pass and running through a rich 
portion of Mexico, will connect at the rich mining district of Parral 
wdth the Mexican Central, and reach the Pacific at or about the 
mouth of the Fuerte River, near the boundary line of the States of 
Sonora and Sinaloa. They will probably also construct another 
line running from Eagle Pass to Durango, to connect with the 
Ivlexican Central, and reach the port of Mazatlan on the Pacific. 

The construction of these roads in the United States, by Cols. 
Pierce and Huntington, has been pushed with wonderful rapidity. 
They deserve great credit for the manner in which they have lavish- 
ed capital to make them first-class roads in every respect, and for 
opening to the world the garden spot of Texas and the hidden 
wealth of Mexico. They must be looked upon not only as great 
railroad builders but as public benefactors. 



166 



TELEGRAPHIC LINES IN THE RE- 
PUBLIC OF MEXICO IN 1881. 



LINES BELONGING TO THE GOVERNMENT. 

Eastern lines, 1,945 kilometres, 483 metres; 45 offices. East- 
ern lines, 6,440 kilometres, 119 metres; 99 offices. Western lines, 
1,394 kilometres, 940 metres ; 37 offices. Southern lines, 584 kilo- 
metres, 376 metres ; 9 offices. Making a total of 10,364 kilometres, 
918 metres, and 190 offices, which carried during the year 1881, 
281,697 messages for the amount of $126,962.43. 

LINES BELONGING TO THE STATES. 

State of Zacatecas, 1,076 kilometres, 492 metres; 19 offices. 
State of Hidalgo, 314 kilometres 250 metres ; 9 offices. State of 
Morelos, 251 kilometres, 400 metres ; 12 offices. State of Michoa- 
can, II kilometres; 2 offices. Making a total of 1,653 kilometres, 
142 metres, and 42 offices, which carried 31,609 messages for the 
sum of Si 1,031.28. 

LINES THE PROPERTY OF RAILROADS. 

Mexican Railway, 485 kilometres; 39 offices that carried 
349,092 messages for the estimated amount of $203,704.82. 

The Morelos Railroad, 127 kilometres; 9 offices that carried 
30,300 messages for the amount of $610.33. 

The Cuantitlan and Salto Railroad, 81 kilometres, 995 metres ; 
8 offices that carried 3,855 messages for the sum of $590.51. . 

The Central to Tula, 80 kilometres, 210 metres. 

The line from San Marcos to Puebla, 49 kilometres, 169 metres ; 
2 offices. 

Making a total of 887 kilometres, 834 metres of telegraphic 
lines, with 58 offices, the property of railroads in Mexico that carried 
355,977 messages for the sum of $204,905.66. 



167 

LINES OWNED BY PRIVATE COMPANIES. 

From Mexico to Vera Cruz, 1,047 kilometres 500 metres; i-] 
offices that carried 55,956 messages for the sum of $42,170.78. 

Lines in the State of Vera Cruz, 617 kilometres 980 metres; 
14 offices whose receipts amounted to $14,743.55. 

Lines in the State of Jalisco, 1,635 kilometres 685 metres; 39 
offices that carried 17,823 messages. 

Making a total of 3,301 kilometres 165 metres ; 70 offices that 
carried 71,779 messages for the sum of $56,914.33. 

Submarine cable, inaugurated in March, 1881, 703 kilometres 
133 metres; 3 offices. 

Making a grand total of 16,910 kilometres 192 metres of tele- 
raphic lines, with 363 offices in the Republic that carried 744,917 
messages for the amount of $399,813.72. 



168 



WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 



The French metric system of weights and measures has been 
adopted in the Repubhc of Mexico and is now in force. 

But in the country, the inhabitants have not done away with 
the old system, (although it is no longer the legal one,) of which 
we give a sketch. 

MEXICAN LAND MEASURES. 

{Translated /ro7n the " Ordeiia7izas de tierras y agtias.") 

The Mexican vara is the same as the vara of Castile, and is 
divided into thirds or foot-fourths, sixths and thirty-sixths inch. It 
equals 33 jS^ inches American m.easure. 

Fifty Mexican varas make a measure called " cordel." 

A Mexican league contains 100 cordels, or 5,000 varas. 

The league is divided into halves and quarters. The half-league 
contains 2,500 varas, and a quarter of a league 1,250 varas. 

Sitzo de Ganado Mayor {sit to, a farm for raising cattle^. 

The figure of a sitio de estancia de ganado mayor is a square 
whose sides measure 5,000 Mexican varas. The area of a sitio is 
25,000,000 square varas, or 4,428 acres. 

Criadero de Gattado Mayor {place for breeding animals). 

It is a square equal to a fourth part of a sitio de ganado mayor y 
whose sides measure 2,500 varas, and contains an area of 6,250,000 
square varas. 

Sitio de Ganado Menor {farm for raising sheep or goats). 

The form of a sitio de estancia de ganado menor is a square 
whose sides measure 3,333 >^ varas. Its area contains 1 1,1 1 1,1 11^ 
square varas. 



169 

Criadero de Ganado Menor. 
It is a square whose sides measure 1,6665^ varas, and its area 
contains 2,j6j,J77l square varas. 

Caballeria de Tierra {jj i-j acres American measure). 
The form of a caballeria de tierra is a rectangular parallelo- 
gram whose north or small side contains 552 varas, and whose 
greatest length is 1,104 varas. Its area contains 609,408 square 

varas. 

Media Caballeria de Tierra. 

It is a square whose side measures 552 varas, and contains 
304,704 square varas. 

Suerte de Tierra {lot of ground — a ckatice). 

It is the fourth part of a caballeria de tierra and the same 
figure, whose long side measures 552 varas and 276 in width. It 
contains 152,352 square varas. 

The Caballeria de Tierra is also divided into twelve fanegas of 
good seed oats. The fanega is equal to three American bushels, or 
a superficy of 8.5624 American acres. 

Solar de Tierra {^ground on which a house is built — town lof). 
Any parcel of land less than a suerte. 

Solar para Casas {for houses, mills and markets). 
It is a square of 50 varas ; 2,500 square varas. 

Fundo Legal {piece of ground which is cultivated — town site). 
It is a tract of land whose form is a square of 1,200 varas on. 
e:ich side, and contains an area of 1,440,000 square varas. 

Porcion. 
Porcion is a measure sometimes used. It is a tract of land 
1,000 wide, and 16,000 long. 

Labor {a cultivated field). 
A square containing 1,000,000 square varas or 177 acres. 

Texas Measure. 
League and labor, 26,000,000 square varas or 4,605 acres. 
To find the number of acres in a given number of square varas, 
divide by 5,646, fractions rejected. , 



170 






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171 



ENGLISH WEIGHTS AND MEASURES COMPARED 

WITH THE METRICAL SYSTEM OF 

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 



LINEAR MEASURES. 



English. 

I inch (^ of a yard) corresponds to 

I foot (>^ of a yard) 

I yard 

I fathom (2 yards) 

I pole or perch (5>^ yards) 

I furlong (320 yards) 

I mile (1,760 yards) 



Metrical. 

2.539954 centimetres. 
3.0479449 decimetres. 
0.91438348 metres. 
1.82876696 " 
5.0291 1 
201.16437 
1 609.3 1 49 



Metrical. English. 

I millimetre corresponds to 0.03937 inches. 

I centimetre " . , . . 0.393708 

I decimetre " 3-937079 " 

( 39-37079 
I metre " " . . •< 3.2808002 feet. 

( 1 .093633 yards. 
I kilometre, or 1,000 metres, corresponds to 

0.62137 miles, or 3,280 feet 10 inches. 
I myriametre corresponds to 6.2138 miles. 

SUPERFICIAL MEASURES. 
Englbh. Metrical. 

I square yard corresponds to 0.836097 sq. metres. 

I rod (or sq. perch) " 25.291937 

I rod(i,2iosq.y'ds) " 10.116775 acres. 

I acre (4,840 s. y'ds) " 0.40467 hectares. 

Metrical. English. 

I square metre equals 1.196033 sq. yards. 

I are " 0.98845 rods. 

I hectare " 2.471 143 acres. 



172 



MEASURES OF CAPACITY. 

English. 

I pint (j^ of a gallon) equals 



I quart (X of a gallon) 
I imperial gallon 
I peck (2 gallons) 
I bushel (8 gallons) 
I sack (3 bushels) 

Metrical. 



Metrical. 

0.567932 litres. 

1. 135864 

4-54345794 " 
9.0869159 " 
36.347664 
1 .09043 hectolitres. 



English. 



1 litre equals ] '■^^^^\ P'"'^ 

( 0.2200967 gallons. 

I decalitre equals 2.2009668 " 

I hectolitre " 22.009667 



WEIGHTS. 
English Troy Weight. Metrical Weight. 

I grain (3^ of a pennyweight) corresponds to , . 0.06477 grams. 

J pennyweight " . . . . 1.55456 " 

I ounce (Jg^ of a pound) " .... 31.0913 " 

I pound " . . . . 0.3930956 kilos. 

English Avoirdupois. Metrical. 

3 dram (j^ of an ounce) corresponds to . . 0.06477 grams. 

I ounce (yV of a pound) " 28.3384 " 

I imperial pound " 0.4534148 kilos. 

I cwt. (q'ntalof ii2pounds) " 50.78246 " 

I ton (20 cwt.) " ..... 1015.649 

Metrical. English. ^ 

r 15.438 troy grains. 

I gram corresponds to -| 0.643 pennyweights. 

/ ( 0.03216 troy ounces. 

I kilogram \ 2.68026 troy pounds. 

( 2.20549 avoirdupois p'ds. 

The troy weights are used to weigh principally precious metals 
and medicines, etc., and the avoirdupois for general use in com- 
merce. (The above tables are taken from the Bureau of Longitudes, 
Paris, France.) 



173 



TARIFF OF PUBLIC LANDS IN 1 876. 



In the Territory of Lower California, 
State of Sonora, 

Chihuahua, 
" " Coahuila, 

" " Nuevo Leon, 

Tamaulipas, 
" " Sinaloa, . 

" " Durango, 

" Zacatecas, 
" " San Luis Potosl, . 

" " JaKsco, . . .i 

" •' Aguas CaHentes, . 

" " Guanajuato, 

" " Oueretaro, 

" " Michoacan, 

CoHma, 
Guerrero, 
Morelos, 
" " Mexico, 

Federal District, 
" State of Tlaxcala, . 
Puebla, 
Hidalgo, . 
" Vera Cruz, 
" " Oaxaca, . 

" " Chiapas, 

" / " Campeche, 
" Yucatan, 



Price of a Sitio 
de Ganado 
Price of Mayor or 4,42^ 
Hectare. acres. 


%o 06 


$105 34 


12 


210 67 


12 


210 67 


12 


210 67 


15 


263 34 


15 


263 34- 


18 


316 01 


18 


316 01 


I GO 


1,755 61 


I 00 


1,755 61 


I 00 


1,755 61 


I 50 


2,633 ir 


2 CO 


3,511 22 


2 00 


3.511 22 


I 00 


1,755 61 


I CO 


1,755 61 


75 


1,316 71 


2 00 


3,511 22 


2 00 


3,511 22 


2 50 


4,389 02 


I 50 


2,633 41 


2 00 


3,511 22 


I 50 


2,633 41 


65 


1,141 15 


75 


1,316 71 


25 


438 90 


75 


1,316 71 


25 


438 9a 



ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ALL IMPORTERS OF MERCHANDISE 
INTO THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO. 



All persons sending articles of commerce from foreign coun- 
tries into the Republic of Mexico shall make out invoices in tripli- 
cate of all goods, fruits or effects remitted to each consignee. 



174 

The invoices shall be drawn up according to the form attached 
to the tariff. 

It shall indicate : 

1st. The name of the vessel, her captain, port of destination, 
consignee of articles contained in the invoice, and the nation from 
which the merchandise originally proceeds, the date of invoice and 
the signature of shipper ; same in total. 

2d. An account, both in v^^riting and figures, of the number of 
packages, boxes, barrels, bales, or any other kind of packing ; the 
same zn total. 

3d. The mark and corresponding number of each package as 
well as its gross weight, excepting that of iron, machinery and rail- 
road material, which may be given with total weight of each lot ; 
same in total. 

4th. The name, material, and class of merchandise specificed 
in accordance with tariff ; same in total. 

B. The quantity in writing and figures of articles that are to 
pay duty by piece, pair, dozen or thousand ; same in total. 

C. The new weight of merchandise that are to {>ay by net 
weight, giving the unit taken as a basis. 

The names of the goods contained in one and the same 
package, and paying different duties, should be given whether there 
IS any duty on net weights on them, or whether they are free. 

D. The length, width and number of pieces of merchandise 
that ought to pay by measurement, giving unit of measurement that 
has been used as a basis ; same in total. 

Invoices should state the value of free goods. 

Invoices must be presented with consular certificates. 

As importers will always have to employ a custom-house 
iDroker, we do not deem it necessary to pubhsh here the tariff — the 
law of December 14th, 1881 — which is too lengthy. It is only 
necessary to say that the penalties imposed by the Mexican laws for 
non-compliance, bad faith and fraud are very severe, and importers 
should be careful in having their documents properly drawn up. 



\ 



175 



ABRIDGED 



Mexican Tariff on Imports, 



Cotton Goods. 








Domestic (unbleached), 


per square metre. 


$0 09 


(bleached), 


" " " ... 


16 


Calico, 


" " " ... 


14 


Thread (white), . 


" kilogram, .... 


60 


Thread (colored), . 


" " 


96 


Thread (spool). 


" dozen, .... 


14 


Cassimeres and similar 






woolen goods. 


" square metre, 


I 40 


Carriages (open), and 






coupes, . 


each, 


176 00 


Coaches, phaetons, lan- 






daus, etc., . 





396 00 


Buggies, . 


" 


132 00 


Sulkies, .... 


" 


66 00 


Wagons, . 





80 00 


Harness for carriages, . 


per kilogram (gross weight). 


2 00 


Harness for wagons, . 


" 


86 


Furniture, 55 per cent, on invoice and 25per cent, additional. 




Pianos, .... 


per kilogram (gross weight), . 


43 


Flour, 


net " . 


10 


Wheat, .... 




' 


04 


Barley, 




" . 


03 


Rice, • . . . 




' 


07 


Hops, 




" . 


18 


Hams (smoked), . 




' 


24 


Meats (salt and smoked). 




( <( 


24 


Lard, .... 




" 


24 


Butter, 




" . 


24 



176 



)er kilogram (net weight), . 


14 


gross " . 


08 


<( << « it 


19 


« « <i « 


38 



net 



gross 



Cheese, . 
Candles (tallow). 
Candles (stearine), . 
Candles (parafine), 
Crackers, 

Canned fruit (cans in- 
cluded), . 
Canned meats and fish 

(cans included), 
Pickles (jars included), 
Soap (toilet), 
Soap (common). 
Glass (common), . 
Gunpowder, 
Nails of all kinds (iron), 
Tools(iron, steel orwood), " " " " , 

Clothing (ready-made), . all kinds, . . . i, 

India-rubber clothing, per kilogram, (gross weight), 
" shoes, etc., " " " " 

" cloth for 

table, ..." " " " . 

Oil-cloth for floors, . 
Leather boots (yellow), . 
" " (calf or 

morrocco), 
" shoes (men's 

common), 
" shoes (men's fine), 
" " (women's 

fine), 

" shoes (women's 
common). 
Carpets (2 and 3-ply), 
" (Brussels), 
" (velvet). 
Cocoa matting. 
Vinegar (barrels). 
Vinegar (bottles), . 
Whisky (barrels). 



50 



dozen. 



48 


I 15 


30 to 80 


17 


2 00 


12 


19 


32 p. cent. 


I 43 


45 


29 


29 


16 50 



square metre, 



kilogram (gross weight), . 
" net " . 



27 00 

7 00 

16 50 

17 00 

5 SO 
80 

95 

I 40 

16 

5 
10 

33 



177 



Whisky (bottles), . . per 


kilogram (gross weight), 


38 


Beer (barrels), . 


" 


10 


Beer (bottles), . . " 


« " " 


20 


Petroleum (cans included), " 


K << « 


09 


Rosin, . . . . " 


gross 


25 


Tar, . . . . " 


" . 


3 


Salt, . . ..." 


" 


5 


Potatoes, ..." 


" .' 


2 


Onions. . . . . " 


It i( « 


2 



From the ist of November machinery is taxed with a duty of 
50 cents per hundred kilogram weight imported into the Republic. 



NEW TARIFF LAW OF JUNE 25th, 1881, THAT WENT 
INTO FORCE NOVEMBER ist, 1881, IMPOSING AN 
ADDITIONAL PACKAGE DUTY UPON MER- 
CHANDISE IMPORTED INTO THE 
REPUBLIC OF MEXICO. 



SECTION I. 



The President of the Republic has thought proper to address 
to me the following decree : 

Manuel Gonzales, Constitutional President of the United States 
of Mexico, to its inhabitants make known : That in accordance 
with the power granted to the Executive by the common law of 
the 31st of May last, to form tariffs corresponding to the new 
duties which said law establishes, have decreed the following : 



ARTICLE 



From the ist of November next the foreign merchandise 
comprised in the schedule below, when imported through the marl- 



178 

time and frontier custom-houses, shall pay the following duty upon 
each and everyone hundred kilograms (gross weight), viz. : 

Iron or steel wires for carding from No. 26 and above, . $0 50 

Rough alabaster, 50 

Live stock (except castrated horses), . . . . , 50 

Ploughs with plough-shares, ...... 50 

Masts, spars and anchors for ship-, . . . • • 50 

Oats in grain and straw 50 

Quicksilver, 50 

Sulphur, 50 

Cylindrical or angular steel bars for mining, ... 50 

Fire engines and all kinds of pumps, .... 50 
Crow-bars, common cutlasses without scabbards, scythes, 

sickles, harrows, rakes, shovels, hoes and spades for 

agricultural purposes, 75 

Hydraulic lime, , 50 

Water-pipes, 50 

Iron and vegetal cards, - 50 

Wheelbarrows, 50 

All collections of minerals, geology, and all branches 

pertaining to natural history, 75 

Crucibles, 50 

Whalebone and parts of the whale, 50 

Designs and models of machines, edifices, monuments and 

ships, 50 

Staves and heads for barrels, 50 

Fresh fruit and vegetables, ..'... 50 

Guano, 50 

Ice, 50 

Hyposulphate of soda, 50 

Corn-meal, and hand corn-meal grinders, ... 50 

Scientific instruments, i 00 

Books, pamphlets (bound or without binding), . . i 00 

Fire-wood, 5*^ 

Bricks and refractory earth, ...... 50 

Types, shields, chases, leads, rules, vignettes and printing 

material, 50 

Box-wood, 50 



179 

Building timber, ........ 50 

Corn, 50 

Maps and spheres, i cx> 

Machines and apparatus for industry, agriculture, mining, 

science and arts, whole, or separate, or in extra pieces, 50 

Sewing machines, whole or in parts, . . . , i 00 

Undressed blocks or marble slabs for paving, ... 50 

Wicks and fercue-grass for mining, .... 50 

Moulds and models for arts 50 

Cabinets of coins of all sorts, 1 00 

Objects of natural history for museums and cabinets, . 50 

Hay and straw, 50 

Plants and seeds for improving agriculture, ... 50 

Lithographic stones, 50 

Slates for roofs and pavements, 50 

Common powder for mining and dynamite, ... 50 

Vaccine virus 50 

Oars for boats, 50 

Common salt introduced through Paso del Norte, . . 50 

Saltpetre, 50 

Sulphate of copper, 50 

Anvils for silversmiths 50 

Printing ink, 50 

Wooden type and other articles used in lithography, . 50 

Rags used to manufacture paper, 50 

Iron rafters for roofs, ....... 50 

Anvils, 50 

ART. II. 

The merchandise specified in the Custom-House tariff, now 
in force from and after the ist of November next, shall pay, besides 
the duties imposed by said tariff, an additional or package duty as 
follows • 

SCHEDULE A. 

Those comprised in the following fractions shall pay fifty cents 
for each one hundred kilograms gross weight. 

I to 3, 6 to 9, 13 to 16, 18, 21, 22, 26 to 36, 38 to 40, 42 to 46, 



180 

51, 52, 54» 5^ to 65, 71 to 74, ^6, 77, 79 to 84, 86 to 88, 90, 96, 97, 
loi, 103 to 107, 112 to 114, 117, 118, 120, 127, 129 to 131, 136 to 
138, 149 to 151, 162 to 167, 170, 171, 183 to 185, 188 to 191, 198, 
200, 202, 207, 208, 210, 212, 215, 233, 234, 252, 255, 256, 260 to 262, 
265, 267, 268, 272 to 288, 290 to 299, 302 to 305, 314, 316, 317, 322, 
324 to 330, 336, 343, 347 to 359, 364, 369, 371 to 373, 377 to 387. 
39I' 393 to 395, 397, 404 to 407, 409 to 412, 414, 416, 419 to 430, 
434 to 437, 440 to 442, 444, 445, 447 to 453, 458, 460, 461, 465. 470 
to 476,481 to 489, 493, 495, 499, 502 to 504, 506, 507, 511, 515, 517, 
522 to 527, 529, 530, 532 to 538, 540, 542 to 555, 559, 598, 599, 6or 
to 610, 612 to 614, 618 to 626, 631 to 634, 637 to 648, 651, 653 to 
^55' 657, 658, 660, 661, 663, 668, 686 to 705, 710 to 713, 717, 719, 
725, 726, 728 to 731, 733, 735, 736, 738 to 740, 743 to 746, 749, 750, 
752, 753. 756, 757. 759 to 762, 769 to 774, 793, 795, 797 to 799, 801 
to 807, 816, 820 to 825, 827 to 838, 840, 841, 844 to 853, 855 to 864, 
866 to 872, 874 to 882, 884 to 887, and 894. 

SCHEDULE B. 

All articles mentioned in the following fractions shall pay 75 
cents for each one hundred kilograms (gross weight) : 

4, II, 19, 20, 23, 37, 41, 47, 56, 57, 78, 91, 92, 108, III, 116, 
119, 122 to 125, 132, 135, 141, 142, 153, 154, 155, 173, 186, 187, 192, 
I93» 203, 204, 209, 211, 213, 218, 253, 257, 264, 266, 300, 301, 312* 
315, 360 to 363, 366 ta 368, 389, 392, 408, 413, 415, 418, 433, 443" 
446, 497, 498, 505, 528, 531, 539, 541, 557, 558, 617, 649, 650, 656, 
664, 667, 669, 718, 724, 727.734, 737. 751. 754. 755. 763. 767. 768, 
792, 796, 839, 854, 883, 888, 889, and 891. 

SCHEDULE C. 

All articles mentioned in the following fractions shall pay $1.00 
for each one hundred kilograms (gross weight) : 

5, 10, 12, 24, 25, 48 to 50, 53, 66 to 70, 75, 85, 89, 93 to 95, 98 
to 100, 102, 109, no, 115, 121, 126, 128, 133, 134, 139, 140, 143 to 
148, 153, 156 to 161, 168, 169, 172, 174 to 182, 194 to 197, 199, 201^ 
205, 206, 214, 216, 217, 219 to 232, 235 to 251, 254, 258, 259, 263, 
269, 270, 271, 289, 306 to 311, 313, 318 to 321, 323, 331 to 335, 337 
to 342, 344 to 346, 365, 370, 374 to 376, 390, 396, 398 to 403, 417, 



181 

431, 432, 43^, 454 to 457, 459, 462 to 464, 466 to 469, 477 to 480, 
490 to 492, 494, 496, 500, 501, 508 to 510, 512 to 514, 516, 518 to 
521, 556, 560 to 597, 600, 611, 615, 616, 627 to 630, 635. 636, 652, 
659, 662, 666, 670 to 685, 706 to 709, 714 to 716, 720 to 723, 732, 
741, 742, 747, 748, 758, 764 to 766, 775 to 791, 794, 800, 808 to 815, 
3i7 to 819, 826, 843, 865, 873, 890, 892 and 893. 

ART. III. 

Raw petroleum and naphtha, when imported after the istof 
November next, instead of 88 per cent., which they pay at present 
on invoice value, according to section 393 of the tariff now in force, 
will pay 80 cents for each one hundred kilograms (gross weight) 
as additional or package duty. 

ART. IV. 

Foreign goods, not specified in the tariff now in force, after 
the ist of November next, besides the duties now assessed on 
the importation, according to Article XXI of said tariff, shall pay an 
additional or package duty of 75 cents for each one hundred kilo- 
grams (gross weight). 

ART. V. 

Packages comprised in the same entry which, together, weigh 
less than one hundred kilograms, shall pay the same duty from 50 
cents to $1.00, according to their respective classification in the tariff. 

ART. VI. 

When a package contains goods of different value the duties 
shall be assessed upon the goods contained in said package having 
the greatest weight. 

ART. VII. 

The duty on packages shall not be collected on goods which 
are exempt from duties by virtue of the privileges granted to rail- 
road companies, and upon those that in each importation the Sec- 
retary of the Treasury may think proper to exempt. 



182 

ART. VIII. 

From and after the ist of November, 1881, the liquids men- 
tioned in the schedule below shall pay, besides the present duties 
imposed by the tariff now in force and the package duty imposed 
by Article II of this decree, an additional duty per net kilogram as 
follows : 

Gin in jars, bottles, jugs and demijohns, . . . $0 10 

Gin in barrels, 08 

Rum, arack and kirch-water in jars, bottles, jugs and 

demijohns, . 12 

Rum, arack and kirch-water in barrels, . . . 10 

Whisky in jars, bottles, jugs and demijohns, . 8 

Whisky in barrels, SH 

Brandy, cognac and aniseed in bottles, jars, jugs and 

demijohns, 8 

Brandy, cognac and aniseed brandy in casks, ... 5^ 
Rum, absynthe, or other liquors not specified, in bottles, 

jugs and demijohns, 8 

Rum, or other liquors not specified, when in casks, . 4)4 

Beer and cider in bottles, i 

Beer and cider in barrels, o}4 

Liquors in bottles or jars, ...... 8 

Liquors in barrels, 3 3!^ 

White wines, except those that are medicinal, when in 

bottles, jugs and demijohns, .... 6 

White wine in casks, 2|^ 

Clarets (all sorts), except those which are medicinal, when 

in bottles, jugs and demijohns 4}^ 

Claret in casks, ij^ 

ART. IX. 

From and after the ist of October, 1881, lumber for construc- 
tion and cabinet work of all kinds, which are exported through the 
coast and frontier ports of the Republic, besides the duties col- 
lected, according to Section 19 of Article LXXVIII of the tariff now 
in force, shall pay an additional duty of $1.00 per each ton of one 
cubical metre. 



183 



ART. X. 



From and after the ist of October, 1881, lumber for construc- 
tion and cabinet work of foreign production, which passes in transit 
by rivers and through part of the RepubHc, on their exportation 
shall pay a single duty of $4.50 per ton of one cubic metre. 

The above provision of this decree shall not be applied to 
foreign lumber in transit carried by railroads, when contractors 
have special contracts with the Mexican Government, containing 
clauses in regard to transits. 

ART. XI. 

In liquidating the duties imposed on foreign goods, imported 
through the maritime and frontier Custom-House, they shall place 
in separate columns the amount of package duty and that of addi- 
tional duty upon liquids established by this decree. 

Ordered to be printed, circulated and enforced. 

(Signed) Landero, 

Secretary of the Treasury 
and Public Credit 
Mexico, June 25th, 1881. 



late decree of the MEXICAN CONGRESS CONCERNING THE 

REVENUES OF THE MEXICAN REPUBLIC FOR THE 

FISCAL YEAR 1 882 TO 1 883. 

{Rendered May 26th, 1S82.) 

Tax upon Imports and Exports. 

Goods imported through the maritime and frontier custom- 
houses, which are subject to the duties fixed in the tariff of 1880 
and to the laws of the 28th and 31st of May, 25th of June and 14th 
of December, 1881, will be subject to the following modifications . 

A. — Shall be excepted from paying the package duties imposed 



184 

by the laws of 31st of May and 25th of June, 1881, the following 
articles : 

Ploughs and plough-shares, masts and anchors for ships, quick- 
silver, live animals, bricks and tiles of all kinds, refractory earth, 
ordinary building timber, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sugar-cane seeds, 
slates for roofing, vaccine matter. 

B. — All goods, arms, materials of war, etc., that the executive 
will purchase for the use of the public service, shall be imported 
free of duties. 

//. — Duties on the consumption of foreign goods that are col- 
lected according to the law of the nth of August, 1875, by the 
collectors of the Federal District and of the territory of lower 
California. 

///. — Tonnage duties, pilot duties, storage and light-house 
duties shall be collected according to the tariff of November 8th, 
1880, and the law of 28th of May, 1881. 

IV. — Transit duties shall also be collected according to said 
tariff respecting the special concessions granted to railroad con- 
struction companies in the country. 

V. — From and after the i st of November next, silver and gold 
coin, or bullion, mineral ores in powder, mineral rock or mineral in any 
other form, shall be free from circulation duties while passing from 
one State into another, in the interior of the Republic, and shall be 
free from export duties. In order to provide for the deficit caused 
by the above fraction of incomes to the Treasury, on the same day 
the different quota fixed by the tariff on importation of foreign mer- 
chandise shall be raised two per cent. ; in the meantime the export 
duties upon gold and silver shall be collected according to the 
existing laws for the fiscal year. 

VI. — From the ist of November next, precious metals shall 
pay a tax of one-half of one per cent, upon the value of silver, and 
one-quarter of one per cent, upon the value of gold, the value of 
the same to be determined by a test of the metals. The executive 
shall determine the time and manner in which the same shall be 
collected. 

VI. — Archil shall pay an export duty of $10.00 per ton of 1,000 
kilograms. 



185 

VII. — Building and cabinet timber shall pay an export duty of 
$2.50 per st^re, besides the duties imposed by the tariff of Novem- 
ber 8th, 1880. 

IX. — Tax on patents of navigation shall be collected according 
to laws in force, in the same manner as for this fiscal year. 

X. — Fees may be collected by consuls, vice-consuls or commer- 
cial agents of the Republic, according to the tariff of November 8th 
1880, and other laws in force. The executive is fully authorized to 
modify during the coming year all the regulations in regard to con- 
sular documents used for the importation of foreign goods. 



NATURALIZATION LAWS, 



(LAWS IN FORCE.) 

Minister of Foreign and Interior Relations. 

His Excellency the General-in-chief of the supreme executive 
power has thought proper to address me the following decree : 

Jose Maria de Salas, General of Brigade and Chief of the 
liberating army of the supreme executive power, to the inhabitants 
of the Republic of Mexico be it known : 

Having under my consideration the fact that one of the most 
efficacious means of procuring the felicity of the Republic, is to pro- 
mote the augmentation of its population and facilitate the natural- 
ization of industrious men, by removing the impediments that have 
opposed laws dictated by a principle less frank and liberal than 
those now professed by the administration, I have thought proper 
to decree, that before the national Congress will make the neces- 
sary reforms the following articles shall be observed : 

1st. — Any foreigner who shall manifest the desire of becoming 



186 

a citizen of the Republic, and who will produce proof that he has a 
profession or carries on an industry that permits him to make an 
honest living, can obtain his letter of citizenship. 

2d. — In the same manner any foreigner may obtain his natural- 
ization letter by serving the nation either in the army or navy. 

3d. — Letters of citizenship shall be issued by the President of 
the Republic, without any charge except those following for those 
named in Article I, stamp paper of the first-class, and for those 
under paragraph i upon common paper. 

4th. — There shall be kept in the Ministry of the Interior and 
Foreign Relations a register where the names, country and profes- 
sion of all foreigners that have become naturalized shall be entered. 

5th. — The foreigners who will have become naturalized by 
virtue of the conditions of this decree, shall be considered as Mexi- 
cans, and in consequence shall be entitled to all rights and obliga- 
tions imposed upon them. 

6th. — No letter of citizenship shall be granted to any citizen of 
any nation at war with the Republic. 

This is accordingly ordered to be published and circulated, and 
enforced. Done in the National Palace of Mexico, September loth, 
A. D. 1846. 

JOSE MARIA SALAS, 
MANUEL REJON. 

I communicate the same for your information, and its enforce- 
ment. 

God and liberty! 

REJON, 
Secretary of State and of Foreign Relations, 
September loth, 1846. 

The President of the Repubhc has thought proper to direct to 
me the following decree : 

Benito Juarez, Constitutional President of the United States of 
Mexico, make known to its inhabitants : 

That the Congress of the Union has decreed the following : 

Sole and only article. — All letters of citizenship shall be issued 
by the President of the Republic on common paper, stamped with 



187 

the seal of the Ministry of State. Accordingly Article III of the 
law of the loth of September, 1846, is hereby repealed. 

M. ROMERO RUBIO, 

Deputy President, 

JUAN SANCHEZ AZCONA, 

Deputy Secretary. 

JULIO ZARATE, 

Deputy Secretary. 

Hall of Congress, Mexico, April 9th, 1870. 

Accordingly, this decree is ordered to be printed, published and 
irculated, and enforced. 

National Government Palace in Mexico, nth of April A. D. 
1870. 

BENITO JUARES. 

To the citizen, Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, 
Minister of Foreign Relations. 

The same is communicated to you for your information and 
desired end. 

Independence and liberty! 

LERDO DE TEJADA 

To the citizen Governor of the State of 

April loth. 



ABSTRACT OF THE LAWS OF MEXICO FOR THE 
ACQUISITION AND OWNERSHIP OF REAL 
ESTATE AND MINES IN THE RE- 
PUBLIC OF MEXICO. 

Foreigners established or residing in Mexico are authorized to 
acquire and possess real estate from private owners, and also mmes 
of all kinds. 



188 

The legitimate means of acquiring real estate and mines or 
mining interests are by purchase, adjudication, denouncement, and 
by any other means established by the Mexican common law, and 
mining ordinances. 

No foreigner can own any real estate in a frontier State or 
Territory of the Republic except by previously obtaining permission 
of the President of the Republic ; or, without this permission, 
provided it is situated beyond sixty miles from the frontier line, or 
beyond fifteen miles from the coast. 

Any foreigner who, desiring permission to own real estate 
within the above mentioned limits, must address his petition to the 
Secretary of Public Works at the City of Mexico, accompanied by a 
report from the Government of the State or Territory where the " 
property is situated. 

The foreigner proprietor of real estate forfeits his rights of 
possession under any of the following circumstances : 

1st. — By being away from the Republic with his family for 
more than two years without permission from the general Govern- 
ment. 

2d. — By residing outside of the Republic, even though he has a 
representative residing upon his property or in the Republic. 

3d. — By the transferring or conveying said property by 
inheritance or any other means to any person non-resident in the 
Republic. 

Any foreign property-owner who may fall into any of the 
three conditions above stipulated, is compelled to sell his real estate 
to a Mexican citizen within two years from the date of his absence 
from the Republic ; or, in case he fails to comply with this pre- 
scription, the public authority will effect the sale of the property, 
depositing the proceeds of it to the order of the owner of the 
property. If said sale has been made by denouncement of the 
property, one-tenth of the proceeds shall go to the person who 
made the denouncement and the balance to the absent foreigner. 

Are exempt from these rules, any foreigners who are members 
of any mining company that has either discovered or restored any 
abandoned mine. In this case he will keep his right to his pro- 
perty through his co-associates in it, no matter what may be the 
time and circumstance of his absence, as long as the labors of the 
association are kept up. 



189 

It is entirely forbidden to natives of neighboring nations and 
to those naturalized in them to obtain Government lands situated 
in a neighboring State or Territory. 

In order that foreigners, who have acquired real estate, may 
become naturalized, it is sufficient that after reporting their acquisi- 
tion to the proper local authority, they apply for their naturaliza- 
tion papers. 

The foreigner residing in the Republic and able to acquire 
public lands, can denounce 2,500 hectares, and no more, as the 
same privilege is granted to native citizens. 

In order to obtain public lands in Mexico, a denouncement 
must be made before the judge who may have charge of Federal 
matters in the judicial district where the land is situated. After the 
denouncement has been presented by petition in writing, the survey 
and measurement of the land has to made by the engineer appointed 
by the judge. When the survey and measurement has been made 
and plated, the judge will ascertain if the land really belongs to 
the public domain. If such is the case, and there is no opponent, 
the judge will decree the adjudication and ownership of the person 
who has denounced it. 

If there is an opponent to the denouncement, a judgment has 
to be passed after a legal trial. 

If the land is not represented in the Federal Treasury to have 
been granted, the denouncement will be published three times 
within thirty days, in which time if an opponent to the denounce- 
ment appear, the same proceedings will take place as stated in the 
clause above. If no opponent appear, the judge will then decree 
the possession only, and not the title of the denounced lands. 

The judicial decree of adjudication of public lands, either in 
possession or property, cannot take its whole effect, until it has 
been approved by the President of the Republic ; for which pur- 
pose the papers in the case w^ill be sent to that supreme authority 
through the Department of Public Works, accompanied by a report 
from the Government of the State, or the highest political authority 
of the Territory where the denouncement has been made. The 
approval of the President once obtamed, and the value of the land 
having been paid by the denouncing party, accordmg to existing 
tariff, the judge will then grant title of property or of possession as 
the case maybe. 



190 

The adjudication in possession differs from that in property in 
that the former gives property as far as the Government and the 
opponent defeated in the trial are concerned, but not in regard to a 
third party, in which case the property may be obtained by Hmita- 
tion or any other legal title. 

All expenses of surveying, measurement, and otherwise con- 
nected with the denouncement, must be paid by the denouncing 
party, but they may be charged to the opponent in case that judg- 
ment shall be passed to that effect. 

Grantees of public lands are compelled to locate on their grant 
at least one inhabitant for every two hundred hectares, who shall 
reside thereon without interrruption during ten years, not being 
absent more than four months during each year. In failing to com- 
ply with this clause of the law he will forfeit his right to the land 
as well as the price paid for it. 

Any person enabled to own property by denouncement of pub- 
lic lands cannot obtain more than 2,500 hectares, by virtue of the 
law of limitation, until he has had possession of the land for ten 
years and has complied with the other requisites of law and those 
prescribed in the above clause. 

Foreigners who have acquired real estate from private owners 
or the Government of Mexico, are subject to all kinds of taxation, 
and are bound to do military duty whenever called upon to protect 
the property they have acquired, preserve public order and tran- 
quihty m the place where they reside, and are bound to take part in 
the elucidation of all questions that may arise in regard to said 
property, according to the existing laws and before the tribunals of 
Mexico, without ever appealing to their rights of foreign citizenship, 
to any intervention from any foreign power. 

The rules to be observed in the transfer of any property 
obtained from private owners are very simple, but it is always bet- 
ter for foreigners to observe the practice of the native citizen, which 
consists in engaging a notary public or a lawyer to examine the 
title and have it registered in the archives at the ofiice of the notary 
public and in the register of the office where taxes are paid for the 
local (municipal) and Federal Government 



191 



SYNOPSIS OF MEXICAN LAWS ON INHERITANCE. 

Foreigners making their last will and testament within 
Mexican territory can select the law of their country in regard to 
the minor solemnity of the act ; but, regarding the external legal 
formalities, will subject themselves to the Mexican laws upon the 
matter. 

When the testator is not conversant with the language of the 
country, there must be present in the act, besides the witnesses, 
two interpreters appointed by the testator himself. 

Testaments made in foreign countries will have their value in 
Mexico whenever they have been made authentically and in com- 
pliance with the laws of the country in which they are executed. 

Only foreigners who, according to the laws of their country, 
can will or leave ab intestado their estate to Mexican citizens, are 
authorized to inherit or to obtain ab intestado the estate of any 
citizen of Mexico. 



INFORMATION FOR PERSONS DESIRING TO PURCHASE REAL 
ESTATE OR MAKE CONTRACTS OF ANY KIND IN MEXICO. 

All transfers of property, arguments, contracts and all other 
documents in order to become valid in Mexico must be drawn up 
and executed before a notary public {escribano piiblicd). 

The required stamps must be placed on the document, or it 
will be null and void (see stamp law), and parties using the same 
without stamps are subject to heavy penalties. 

The original document remains in the archives, and only certi- 
fied copies are delivered to parties interested. 

The Alcabala is a tax that has to be paid into the Govern- 
ment Treasury upon the amount mentioned in every transfer of 
real estate. It is uniform all over the Republic — being one and 
a-half per cent, upon the amount mentioned in the deed or transfer, 
and twenty-five per cent, additional tax upon the one and a-half 
per cent. 

Some States have imposed a railroad tax on real estate trans- 
fers. In the State of San Luis Potosi it is ten per cent, on amount 
paid as alcabala for transfer of dominion. 



192 



STATISTICS. 

FEDERAL REVENUE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 1 879 TO 1880, 

AS PRESENTED IN THE REPORT OF THE TREASURER 

OF THE NATION — $21,936,165.39 DERIVED FROM 

THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES. 



I. 


From custom-houses (imports alone $12,338,- 






771.87), 


$13,438,284 35 


2. 


Incomes from the District and Territory of 






Lower California, .... 


1,173,877 81 


3. 


From stamp duties, 


3,725,036 73 


4- 


" direct taxation, . . , * . 


592,688 48 


5- 


" products of national property, 


148,535 22 


6. 


" " of mints, .... 


300,389 32 


7. 


Renting of the following mints : — 

Guanaguato and Zacatecas, . $300,000 
Alamos, Culiacan and Herme- 

sillo, . . . . 100,000 
San Luis, .... 100,000 
Chihuahua, . . . 60,000 
Durango and Guadalajara, . 160,000 








720,000 00 


8. 


Fund belonging to public institutions, . 


46,716 68 


9- 


Post office, 


967,927 23 


:o. 


Smaller branches of revenue : — 

Rents, .... $22,221 75 
Miscellaneous profits, , 188,13604 
General archives, . . 108 71 
Gift to the Treasury, . 1 20 00 
Appointments of notary 

publics, . . . 600 00 

Legalization of signatures, 2,305 60 

From telegraphs, . . 119,890 15 

" fines, . . . 11,104 16 

Naval patents, . . . 1,385 31 





193 





Premiums, 


7,306 26 






Costs of courts, 


2,705 63 






Redintegration, 


497 25 






Salt mines, 


400 00 






Public lands. 


33,061 49 






Sale of useful objects, 


2,731 01 






Privileges and patents . 


565 00 






Not specified. 


10,117 40 






From consulates, . 


70,366 00 








473,621 ^d 


II. 


Products of property and capital. 


. 


856 25 


12. 


Ten per cent, tax upon lotteries. 


. 


41,341 53 


13- 


Product of the lottery of the 


Cuantitlan 






Railway, 


, 


25,000 00 


14. 


Duties on home manufactures, 


. 


148.178 09 


15- 


Balance of taxes, . 


> • • 


90,320 09 


i6. 


Donation to pay the American debt, 


43.391 85 




^21,936,165 39 




Balance on hand from last year. 
Total amount to meet the budget. 


1,468,116 35 




$23,404,281 74 



STATEMENT OF THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES OF 

THE DIFFERENT STATES OF THE REPUBLIC OF 

MEXICO DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 

1879 TO 1880. 

Revenue. Expenditures. 

1. Ag^ascaliente, . . . $66,748 57 $61,085 85 

2. Campeche, , . . 126,301 32 183,061 21 

3. Coahuila, .... 57,ii6 dd 57,ii6 66 

4. Colima, , . . . 96,365 43 9^,357 44 

5. Chiapas, .... 79,958 55 78,400 00 

6. Chihuahua, . . . 100,084 ©4 122,472 37 

7. Durango, .... 144,280 56 118,641 58 

8. Guanajuato. . . . 927,576 30 819,053 93 



194 



9- Guerrero, 

10. Hidalgo, 

11. Jalisco, . 

12. Mexico 

13. Michoacan, 

14. Morelos, 

15. Nuevo Leon, . 

16. Oaxaca, 

17. Puebla, . 

18. Queretaro, . 

19. San Luis Potcsi, 

20. Sinaloa, 

21. Sonora, . 

22. Tabasco, 

23. Tamaulipas, . 

24. Tlaxcala, 

25. Vera Cruz, 

26. Yucatan, 

27. Zacatecas, 

Total, . 



88,426 15 

382,385 39 
307,540 51 
415,633 40 
271,555 69 

233.527 II 
97,460 23 

530.993 58 
688,155 00 
178,831 20 
332,927 78 
123,969 30 
142,000 00 

91,425 26 
100,000 00 

87,369 79 
618,557 75 
229,172 44 
493,600 00 



91,640 36 
361,026 00 
325,050 27 
449^734 09 
233,763 42 
200,467 56 

96,083 00 

530,993 58 

688,155 00 

178,728 83 

327,429 91 

122,369 04 

167,296 50 

84,019 91 

98,525 25 

^7,7^7 34 

607,335 43 

228,792 33 

477,383 06 



,011,962 01 $6,825,684 07 



STATEMENT SHOWING THE EXPENDITURES OF THE DIFFER- 
ENT BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE 
FISCAL YEAR 1879-1880. 



1. Legislative Department, 

2. Executive " 

3. Judicial " . 

4. Exterior relations, 

5. Interior " . 

6. Justice, 

7. Public vv^orks, . 

8. Treasury, 

9. War and marine. 

Total, . . . 



Amount authorized 
to be expanded. 

$983,242 00 

48,832 40 

347,878 00 

273,711 46 

2,831,648 24 

1,152,347 36 

3,018,119 42 

4,938,294 14 

9,938,224 10 



Amount actually 
expended. 

$901,897 69 
42,170 48 

319,915 91 
255,290 ^^ 
2,432,168 14 
1,057,183 00 
2,179,088 57 
4,565,519 87 

8,678,562 66 



$23,532,297 12 $20,431,797 20 



195 



RECAPITULATION. 



Sums of Authorized Budget. 



For Federal Government, . , . . . $23,532,297 12 

For divers State Governments, . . . 7i^S7>^97 ^5 

Total, $31,190,194 17 



Federal revenue according to Treasurer's Report 

for 1879-1880, $21,936,165 39 

Revenue of the different States as already stated, 7,011,962 01 

Total, $28,948,127 40 



Sums Expended. 

For Federal Government, .... $20,431,896 15 

For the Government of the States, . . . 6,825,684 07 

Total, $27,257,580 22 



THE VALUE OF REAL ESTATE. 

The number of estates or farms in the Republic of Mexico in 
1856 amounted to 13,000, according to documents on file with the 
collector of direct contributions, and the value of the same was 
assessed at $720,000,000, and the value of city property was set 
down at $635,000,000, making together the total value of real estate 
in Mexico at that time amount to $1,355,000,000. 

The majority of the population of Mexico resided in 1856 in 
26,468 cities, towns, villages, plantations and ranches, most of them 
situated on the plateau and on the planes of the Cordilleras or the 
inclined plane leading from the plateau to the coasts. 



196 

It was estimated that in 1856 over one hundred millions of dol- 
lars was in circulation in the Republic. 



STATEMENT SHOWING THE VALUE OF REAL ESTATE IN THE 
REPUBLIC OF MEXICO IN 1881. 







Value of 


Value of 


Total Value of 




Name of State, 


City Property. 

$ 
1,700,000 00 


Rural Property. 


Real Estate. 


I 


Aguascalientes 


3,342,000 00 


$ 
5,042,000 00 


2 


Campeche 


552,509 00 


691,286 00 


1,243,795 00 


3 


Coahuila 


1,140,828 00 


1,809,865 00 


2.950.693 00 


4 


Colima 


1,891,790 00 


800,852 00 


2,692,642 00 


5 


Chiapas 


439,994 00 


1,836,286 00 


2,276,280 00 


6 


Chihuahua 


1,646,730 00 


3,007,200 00 


4.653.930 00 


7 


Durango 


2,653,331 00 


4,404,548 00 


7,057,879 00 


8 


Guanajuato 


8,572,982 88 


21,285,290 89 


29.858,273 77 


9 


Guerrero 


1.993.304 00 


11,503,400 00 


13.496.704 00 


10 


Hidalgo 


2,559.311 22 


11,825,426 37 


14.384.737 59 


II 


Jalisco 


10,085,295 75 


12,980,953 77 


23,066,249 52 


12 


Mexico 


4,444,651 43 


18,946,445 46 


23.391.096 89 


13 


Michoacan 


7,299,057 00 


13,650,657 00 


20,949,714 00 


14 


Morelos 


1,064,059 07 


4,193.315 32 


5.257.374 39 


15 


Nuevo Leon 


5,029,463 00 


4.555.327 00 


9,584,790 00 


16 


Oaxaca 


6,178,534 00 


5,262,766 00 


11,441,300 00 


17 


Puebla 


18,411,678 55 


14,609,865 91 


33,021,544 46 


18 


Queretaro 


4,861,238 GO 


5,699,245 00 


10,560,483 00 


19 


San Luis Potosi 


5,625,608 58 


7,928,048 14 


13.565.656 72 


20 

T 


Sinaloa 
Sonora 


2,996,313 00 


1,611,477 00 


4,607,790 00 
6,898,000 00 


21 




22 


Tabasco 


1,001,309 00 


1,856,940 00 


2,858,249 00 


23 


Tamaulipas 


4,264,665 00 


1,950,270 00 


6,214,935 00 


24 


Tlaxcala 


713,157 00 


5,069,457 00 


5,782,614 00 


25 


Vera Cruz 


18,139,822 14 


5.793.565 00 


23.933.387 14 


26 


Yucatan 


1,449,604 44 


1,728,573 62 


3,178,178 06 


27 


Zacatecas 


5,774,416 42 


9,841,235 59 


15,615,652 01 


28 


Ter. of L. Cal. 






7,598,682 00 


29 


Federal districts 
Total 


49,194,724 04 


5.689,697 97 


54,884,422 01 




169,684,376 52 


181,873,994 04 


366,055,052 56 



197 

The estimated value of real estate in Mexico, without regard to 
its taxable value, sums up for the year 1881 to the amount of 
$432,000,000. The author of the present work, from his own obser- 
vations in traveling through the country, believes that the above 
sum does not actually represent more than one-fourth of the true 
value of real estate in Mexico. 



MINING STATISTICS. 

During the time that Mexico was a colony of Spain, that is 
from 1537 to 1821, the sum of $2,086,269,703 silver and $68,768,411 
gold, making a total of $2,155,038,124, was produced by the 
Mexican mines ; and after independence was effected, from 1822 
to 1880, the mines produced in silver $900,658,309, and in gold 
$49,413,786, making a total of $950,072,095, which amounts in all 
to the sum of $3,105,110,219. This immense amount of coin is 
about the sum in round numbers that France lost in the Franco- 
Prussian war. What is mining compared with industry } 



TABLE SHOWING TH« EXPORTS OF TIMBER TO FOREIGN 

COUNTRIES FROM THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO 

THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING IN 1 87 5. 





Total value exported 


Amount of duties 


Quality of Timber. 


through all the 


paid the Mexican 




ports, m dollars. 


Government. 


Mahogany, 


$877,973 97 


$103,455 78 


Cedar 


79,859 00 


8,114 25 


Lumber, 


3.963 14 


8 64 


Palo Moral, 


105,555 20 




Palo de tinte (dye wood), 


543,378 06 




Tapinceran, . 


150 GO 


3 00 




$1,610,879 37 


$111,581 67 



198 



TOTAL IMPORTS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES INTO 
REPUBLIC OF MEXICO DURING THE FISCAL 
YEAR ENDING IN 1875. 



THE 



From what countries 


Invoice 


Value at Mexican 


Custom House 


imported. 


value. 


ports. 


duties. 


England, . 


$8,657,168 68 


$12,523,745 -J^ 


$5,157,476 92 


France, . 


3,096,990 17 


4,453,327 26 


1,811,713 42 


Germany, . 


1,005,763 33 


1,658,394 12 


721,912 75 


Spain, 


914,908 58 


1,329,527 02 


610,738 42 


South America, . 


90,031 94 


202,553 93 


74,869 89 


United States, 


5,028,635 91 


7,133,307 B3 


3,444,822 09 




$18,793,493 61 


$27,300,855 93 


$11,821,523 49 



TABLE INDICATING THE COST OF RAISING AND GATHERING 
ONE "ARROBA," OR 25 POUNDS, OF COTTON IN THE 
DIVERS STATES OF THE MEXICAN REPUBLIC, AND ITS 
COST LAID DOWN AT THE NEARESTf PORT OF EXPORTS, 
AND THE PROFIT ITS CULTIVATION WILL GIVE TO THE 
AGRICULTURIST. 



Taken from a memoir upon the culture of cotton in Mexico 
by Seiior Don Jose Andrande in August, 1864. 

(Since that time other States have been created out of the State 
of Mexico : Puebla, Tamauhpas, San Luis Potosi, etc., and Yu- 
catan.) 

The price of freight given in this table is at present much 
reduced, but it must be remembered that in 1 864 nearly all the 
means of transportation was engaged in hauling cotton from 
Texas to Mexico, and that all the facilities for transportation were 
inadequate to the task. 



199 



The price of i8 cents is a fair average price as is also tl 
cost of raising the same. 



Cotton gathered 

the following 
States. 


Transported to the 

follo^vlng- 

ports. 




li 

1 


Total expense 

to 

port of embarcation. 

Average Value 
per 
25 pounds. ! 




Pi5 






s 


$ U i $ 


$ 


$ 


Aguasca- ) 
lientes \ 


San Bias, 


1 38I2 25 


3 634 50 


87 


264 GO 


Baja Call- [ 
fornia \ 


j Any port in that ) 
I territory ) 




37 


I 75 




2 75 


836 GG 


Chiapas 


Tonala 




55 


I 93 




2 57 


781 GG 


Chihuahua 


Altata 




2 5o|3 88 




62 


188 GG 


Coahuila 


Matamoros 




I 62 3 GO 




I 50 


456 GO 


CoHma 


Manzanillo 




37 


I 75 




2 75 


836 GO 


Durango 


Mazatlan 




I 12 


2 50 




2 00 


6g8 go 


Guanajualo 


Tampico 




I 37 


2 75 




I 75 


532 GO 


Gerrero 


Acapulco 




62 


2 00 




2 50 760 00 


Island of { 
Carmen \ 


Carmen 




25 


I 63 




2 87 872 00 


Jalisco 


San Bias 




I 5o|2 88 




I 62 '492 00 


Mexico 


Vera Cruz 




I 25 2 63 




I 87 568 GO 


Michoacan 


Zacatula 




I 703 08 




I 42431 00 


Nuevo Leon 


Matamoros 




I 25 2 63 




I 87 568 GO 


Oaxaca 


Huatula 




842 22 


' 


2 28693 00 


Puebla 


Vera Cruz 




87 


2 25 




2 25 684 GO 


Queretaro 


Tampico 


I 10 


2 48 




2 G2;6l4 GO 


San Luis [ 
Potosi \ 


J 1 
do. 


137 


275 




175 


532 00 


Sierra Gorda 


do. 1 


I 10 


2 48 




2 G2 


614 GG 


Sinaloa 


Altata i i 87 


2 25 




2 25 684 GO 


Sonora 


Guaymas 


62 


2 00 




2 50 760 GG 


Tabasco 


Frontera 




50 


I 88 




2 62 


796 GG 


Taraaulipas 


Tampico 




52 


I 90 




2 6g 


790 GG 


Tehuantepec 


{ Tehuantepec or ( 
) Minatillan \ 




24 


I 62 




2 88 


875 GO 


Tlaxcala 


Vera Cruz 1 


S7 


2 25 




2 25 


684 GO 


Vera Cruz 


do. 


37 


I 75 




2 75 


836 GG 


Yucatan 


Campeche ! 45 


I 83 




2 67 


811 GG 


Zacatecas 


San Bias 




2 00 


3 38 




I 12 


340 GO 



200 



TABLE SHOWING THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE 
STATES AND THE TERRITORY OF LOWER CALIFORNIA, 
AND THE COST OF THEIR MAINTENANCE FOR THE YEAR 
1880. 



STATES, 


fl 


|| 


H 


Number 

of 

male 

pupils. 


Number 

of 
female 
pupils. 


Total 
number 

of 
pupils. 


l-gil 


I. Aguasca- ) 
lientes \ 


53 


26 


79 


4,800 


1,200 


6,000 


1 

10,000 


2. Campeche 


43 


14 


57 


3,600 


700 


4,300 


15,000 


3. Coahuila 


70 


30 


100 


5.230 


2,127 


7.357 


26,000 


4. Colima 


18 


17 


35 


1,452 


1,502 


2.954 


18,000 


5. Chiapas 


78 


12 


90 


2,125 


500 


2,625 


10,000 


6. Chihuahua 


73 


40 


113 


3.350 


928 


4,278 


28,473 


7. Durango 


95 


30 


125 


3,102 


1.350 


4.452 


20,000 


8. Guanajuato 


176 


145 


321 


10,754 


7,045 


17,799 


81,386 


9. Guerrero 


392 


28 


420 


13,006 


1.755 


14.761 


34.965 


10. Hidalgo 


442 


76 


518 


15,819 


3.371 


19.190 


82,287 


II. Jalisco 


439 


275 


714 


28,376 


11,160 


39.536 


100,000 


12. Mexico 


887 


181 


i,q68 


41.321 


10,245 


51.566 


187,216 


13. Michoacan 


154 


89 


243 


7,000 


3.200 


10,200 


52,756 


14. Morelos 


47 


40 


S7 


8,209 


5.387 


13.596 


22,866 


1 5. Nuevo Leon 


181 


104 


285 


8,928 


4,732 


13.660 


68,000 


16. Oaxaca 


234 


47 


281 


16,420 


3.296 


19.716 


50,982 


17. Puebla 


889 


118 


1,007 


50,320 


15,000 


65,320 


153.000 


18. Queretaro 


lOI 


62 


163 


6,271 


2,922 


9.193 


30,000 


19. San Luis ) 
Potosi \ 


183 


56 


239 


9,486 


3.690 


13.176 


40,000 


20. Sinaloa 


238 


42 


280 


6,600 


2,600 


9,200 


58,000 


21. Sonora 


80 


25 


105 


3.500 


740 


4.240 


20,000 


22. Tabasco 


48 


17 


65 


2,695 


525 


3.220 


20,000 


23. Flascala 


176 


18 


194 


8,100 


1.550 


9.650 


20,000 


24. Tamaulipas 


60 


— 


60 


4,000 




4,000 


10,000 


25. Vera Cruz 


580 


149 


729 


20,021 


5.937 


25.958 


218,935 


26. Yucatan 


163 


39 


202 


8,659 


2,643 


11.302 


50,000 


27. Zacatecas 


311 


178 


489 


13.738 


6,653 


20,391 


72,000 


Ter. of Lower ) 
California ) 


17 
6,228 


9 
1,867 


26 
8,095 


677 


367 


1,044 


10,000 


Total 


307.559 


101,125 


408,684 


1,510,446 



201 



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203 



MEXICAN STAMP DUTY— ABRIDGED. 



This work does not permit us to give in full the stamp duty- 
law (ley del timbre), but we make such abstracts as will be found 
most interesting to foreigners. 

Article ist of the law says : " The Federal Revenue, known as 
stamp duty, shall be made effective by means of stamps, according 
to the disposition of this law." 

Article 2d. — The stamp shall consist of three different classes, 
first, stamps for documents and books ; second, stamps for goods, 
and, third, stamps for Federal contributions. 

Article 3d. — The stamps shall only be valid for the year 
mentioned in their faces, or during the time the executive may 
determine, changing their value, if necessary. 

Article 4th. — The stamps for documents and books shall be of 
the following denominations : 

I. — First, ten dollars. 
Second, five dollars. 
Third, one dollar. 
Fourth, fifty cents. 
Fifth, twenty-five cents. 
Sixth, ten cents. 
Seventh, five cents. 
Eighth, three cents. 
Ninth, one cent. 

II. — The stamps for merchandise shall be of the following 
denominations, viz., one, three, five and ten cents. 

III. — The stamps to be used for the payment of Federal con- 
tributions shall be of the following denominations, viz, : 
First, five dollars. 
Second, one dollar. 
Third, twenty -five cents. 
Fourth, five cents. 
Fifth, one cent. 



204 

IV. — The stamp duty may be paid with the stamps specified in 
this law, or with several stamps together amounting to the value 
required. 

E. 

42. — Public docujnents itestimonid), titles, etc. 

A. — When no sum is expressed or determined in the first page, 
five dollars, and for each additional pasfe, fifty cents. 

B. — When sums are mentioned or expressed on every page, 
fifty cents. 

And for each one hundred dollars, and every fraction of a 
hundred dollars, ten cents. 

C. — When sums are mentioned, and at the same time include 
objects whose value cannot be determined : for the first page, five 
dollars, and each additional page, fifty cents. 

And for each one hundred dollars or fraction thereof, ten 
cents. 

D. — Contract of rent or yearly lease, for each page, fifty 
cents, and for each hundred dollars or fraction of one hundred 
dollars mentioned in the same, ten cents. 

E. — For a division or partition sale, for each leaf, fifty cents ; 
and one cent on all sums from one to twenty dollars, and one cent 
for each additional twenty dollars or fractions thereof. 
43. — Titles to Mines, for each page, fifty cents. 

I. 

50. — Inventories, taken by order of court, per page, fifty cents. 

L. 

5 1 . — For each legalizatioti of signature, ten cents. 
52. — Bills of exchange. 

From one to twenty dollars, one cent; over that sum, for 
each twenty dollars or fraction thereof, one cent. 
53. — For drafts, as above. 

M. 

58. — Memorials, petitions, etc., before any authority, for each 
leaf, fifty cents. 



205 

65. — Promissory notes, from one to twenty dollars, one cent ; ex- 
ceeding that amount, for each and every twenty dollars 
or fraction thereof, one cent. 
67. — Patent rights — Shall be written upon special paper and con- 
tain stamps to the amount of twenty dollars. 
76. — Private power of attorney. 

A. — In which no sum is specified, and in which none can be 
determined, for each page, fifty cents. 

B. — If any quantity is determined, in all cases where it is 
legally admissible from one to twenty dollars, one cent ; exceeding 
that amount, for each and every twenty dollars or fraction 
thereof, one cent. 
"JT. — For a judicial power. 

A. — On the first page of the document, five dollars, and each 
succeeding Qne, fifty cents. 

B. — For substitution of powers of attorney, for each page, 
fifty cents. 

80. — Protest, for each page, fifty cents. 
81. — Protocol, for each page, fifty cents. 

R. 

82, — Receipts, or any document given to prove payment or deposit 
of goods or money. For sum of twenty dollars or less 
one cent ; exceeding the sum of twenty dollars or frac- 
tion, one cent. 

T. 

For each will or testament, for the first page, five dollars, and 
fifty cents for each additional page. 
89. — Tesiimonio. 

A. — For any legalized document, each page, fifty cents. 

B. — And for each and every hundred dollars or fraction of a 
hundred dollars mentioned in the sum, ten cents. 

C. — If no sum of money is mentioned in the document, and the 
same is not determined on the first page, for the first page, five dol- 
lars, and each succeeding page, fifty cents. And for each and every 
hundred dollars or fraction, ten cents. 



206 

90. — Professional titles. 

A. — Titles and license tax shall be extended on special paper, 
and the following stamp duty shall be attached to the same : — 

For lawyer, %io oo 

Business agent, lo oo 

Agriculturist 5 oo 

Broker, ist class lo oo 

'♦ 2d " , . . . 5 oo 

Dentist, 5 oo 

Notary public (yf-ac/), 15 oo 

Apothecary, 20 00 

Flebotomist 5 00 

Engineer, , 15 00 

Teacher, professor 5 00 

Doctor, 20 00 

Midwife, . 5 00 

Scientific professors not mentioned in the tariff, . . 10 00 

91. — Titles to lands. 

When value does not exceed two hundred dollars, for each 
title, fifty cents. 

92. — Titles to mines. 

A. — When no quantity or sum is expressed, nor can be deter- 
mined on first page, five dollars, and fifty cents for each following 
page. 

B. — When a sum is mentioned. For each page,/?/"/)' cents, 
and ten cents for each one hundred dollars or fraction of a hun- 
dred dollars mentioned in the same. 

Penalties for not complying with this law are very heavy. 



207 



THE MAGUEY PLANT, 

OR AGAVE AMERICANA. 

The maguey plant is a true vegetal spring. When the plant is 
about to bloom it is anxiously watched by the patient Indian, who, 
as soon as he discovers the true signs, which consist in the stem 
beginning to shoot up, the leaves, which are usually bent toward 
the ground, close up, and the appearance of the plant changes 
completely. The stem is then cut short and an incision made 
with a sharp spoon into the heart of the plant, and the leaves 
tied close over it ; the sap or juice is then gathered as often 
as three times a day. One Indian can attend to three hundred 
plants, usually called a quebra. A plant will commonly furnish, 
in twenty-four hours, four cubic decimetres (or 242 cubic inches, 
English measure), equal to eight Mexican quartillos. Of this total 
quantity they obtain three quartillos at sunrise, two at midday, and 
three at six in the evening. A very vigorous plant will yield as 
much as fifteen quartillos, or 454 cubic inches, EngHsh, per day, 
for four to five months, which amounts to the enormous volume of 
more than 1,100 cubic decimeters, or 67,130 inches. This abun- 
dance of juice, produced by a single maguey of scarcely a yard in 
height, is so much more astonishing from the fact that the planta- 
tions are generally situated on arid ground where nothing else will 
grow except yuca. It is well to add that the produce of the maguey, 
like the produce of the vine, varies very much according to the 
latitude and the atmosphere, etc. 

After the plant has furnished its crop of juice it dies off. Then 
out of the leaves a very good paper can be manufactured ; the point 
of the leaves are used by the Indians as needles. Out of the leaves 
is made a kind of hemp called istle, which is worth as much as 12^ 
cents per pound, and is exported to manufacture rope, brushes, etc. 
The plant is prevented from blooming, because all that nature 
destined to produce, the growth of the stems, flowers and fruit is 
to become the favorite beverage of the Mexicans, pulque. The plant 
which has until then been abandoned to itself as the wild tree of the 



208 

forest, when it is about to blossom, becomes an object of the greatest 
care and vigilance. The Mexican Indian, with the patience that 
characterizes his race, watches the appearance of the indications of 
the growth of the stem, the straightening and closing of the leaves, 
and, in fact, the general appearance of the plant ; he inspects care- 
fully the field and marks each plant that is about to bloom. It 
is then that the sap is gathered, which is called in Mexico 
agua miel (honey-water) on account of its sweet flavor, and with it 
the pulque is prepared. After cutting the sprout or stem of the 
plant and taking away the leaves surrounding it with the spoon, the 
stem is hollowed out six or seven inches in diameter, and four to 
six inches in depth. It is in this cavity that the sap is gathered ; 
the hole or wound made in the plant, enlarged gradually, is covered 
by closing the leaves growing around the stem, tying them together 
at the points, or bending them by placing a flat rock over them. 
The liquid sap is carried off two or three times a day, and in 
order to facilitate the flow of sap, the cavity made in the plant 
is rasped with a sharp instrument each time that it is emptied^ 
something like a spoon with sharp edges. To gather this sweet sap 
the Indians use an instrument acting like a pipette, which they call 
Acocote. It consists of a long gourd, to each end of which are 
affixed two pieces of sharp horn : while one end is plunged in the 
liquid, the other placed in the mouth draws the liquid, which is 
then emptied in an earthen jar and then carried into the cellar where 
the fermentation is to take place. 

Although the maguey will grow in soil where no other plant 
will, It matures with more precocity when planted in good soil and 
is cultivated, and in some localities watered occasionally. In some 
soil the agave will mature in five years. Heat has great influence 
over the expansion of the growth of the stem and its blooming. 
Experience shows that the maguey acclimated in Africa and in South 
America will travel over the cycle of its vegetation much more 
rapidly than on the table lands of Mexico and Peru. This rapid 
growth is, however, unfavorable to the accumulation of the sweet 
sap, and that is probably the reasoii why in Spain and Italy the 
agave is not, as in the plateau of Anahuac, cultivated as a produce. 

In northern climes the maguey vegetates but rarely matures. 
That is probably the reason that has caused the popular belief that 



309 

it only blossomed in a hundred years. In the State of Oaxaca, in 
the Republic of Mexico, at an altitude of 10,000 feet, Xhefurcrcza 
lo72gcEva being forty-two to forty-five feet in height, bearing leaves 
from rix to nine feet long, only brings forth its yellow flower once 
in every hundred years — if the Indian's statement can be relied on. 
In the vicinity of Toluca and Cacanumecan, State of Mexico, 
and Cholula, State of Puebla, the cultivated maguey reaches its 
maturity in eight years. In that section of the country a plant fur- 
nishes a gallon of liquid daily, and a vigorous plant will furnish as 
much as seven quarts in every twenty-four hours, during four or five 
months ; this is the maximum yield. In bad soils a plant will not 
render in the same period of time more than 1 1 2 quarts of juice 
(agua miel). 

Dr. Dreyer, m-ilitary apothecary in the French army, has 
observed that one plant during three months yielded one to two 
quarts daily ; altogether, 136 quarts. The difference in the yield of 
this plant is attributed to the locality, the quality of the soil, and the 
culture or the care taken of the plant when the first signs of 
maturity are shown, and, above all, of the choice m the variety of 
the plant to be cultivated. In the State of San Luis Potosi the 
maguey matures in from four to eight years, according to locality ; 
five years are considered a fair average. The cost of planting 100,000 
magueys in that State is from $400 to $600. A large maguey can 
produce twenty-five pounds of istle, worth from $2.50 to $3.00. 

The maguey stands at the head of the alcohol producing plants, 
producing fifty per cent, more alcohol than com, sugar-cane, Irish 
potatoes, grapes, and in fact of all plants on an equal space of 
ground. It excels all other products in its production of alcohol. 



210 



ITINERARIES 

ITINERARIES OF ROUTES THROUGH THE ISTHMUS OF TEHU- 
ANTEPEC, NICARAGUA AND PANAMA. 

Fro77i the Atlantic side. 

From New Orleans, crossing the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, to 
the port of Ventosa on the Pacific, 956 miles ; time, 46 days. 

From New Orleans, crossing the Isthmus of Nicaragua, to the 
port of San Juan del Sur, 1,430 miles; time, ^Yz days. 

From New Orleans, crossing the Isthmus of Panama, to Pana- 
ma, 1,458 miles ; time, 6^ days. 

From New York, via Tehuantepec, to La Ventosa, 2,053 miles ; 
time, 9^ days. 

From New York, via Nicaragua, to San Juan del Sur, 2,182 
miles; time, loj^ days. 

From New York, via Panama, to Panama, 2,045 miles ; time. 
9>^ days. 

From the Pacific side. 

From the port of La Ventosa, in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, 
to San Francisco, Cal., 2,118 miles ; time, 9X days. 

From the port of San Juan del Sur, in the Isthmus of Nicara- 
gua, to San Francisco, Cal., 2,670 miles ; time, 11 X days. 

From Panama, Isthmus of Panama, to San Francisco, Cal., 
3,210 miles ; time, 14 days. 

ROUTE NO. I. 

From the City of San Antonio, Texas, to the City of Mexico, 
overland in j866. 

From San Antonio several roads lead to the City of Mexico, 
but they have more or less inconvenience, and many of them are 
scarce of water and forage at long intervals between the towns, 
haciendas and ranches situated along the routes. The writer of 
this itinerary will describe those which he has found the best and 



211 

safest at all times of the year, having made the trip several times 
with one companion and two servants. 

The route by way of Eagle Pass is good, but is much longer 
than by way of Laredo It was preferred during the rebellion for 
trains and travelers because all the streams along that route are 
fordable, and havmg good grass and also safer from robbers and 
Indians than the Laredo route 

From San Antonio to Eagle Pass, passing through the towns 
of Castroville. Dhanis and Uvalde, it is 145 miles, over a good road 
with abundance of water and grass, and stores and hotels along the 
road where the traveler can find all he desires. 

At Eagle Pass, which is situated opposite the town of Piedras 
Negras, in the State of Coahuila, m the Republic of Mexico, the 
Rio Grande is crossed in a good ferry-boat. The first thing the 
traveler has to do is to repair to the custom-house, and either pay 
the duties on his outfit or give bond to return the same at the cus- 
tom-house where he took the permit within sixty days or return a 
certificate from any other custom-house in the Republic, showing 
that he has recrossed into the United States with the same outfit 
that he took into Mexico. [By outfit is meant the ambulance or 
conveyance and animals with which one travels.] 

The next thing is to procure a passport from the authorities, 
with permission to carry the weapons necessary for the defense of 
the part}^ ; to obtain this, no impediment is thrown in the way of 
the traveler, if any respectable citizen will answer for his good 
behavior. 

The road the writer traveled to Monterey and Saltillo is the 
one described here as route number one. There are several others, 
but I will only describe one or two. 

ROUTE NO. 2. 

From Pzedras Negras, in the State of Coahuila, to the town and 
old presidio of La Punta de Lampasas, in the State of Nuevo 
Leon. — Distance by way of the Alamo de Los Borregos, ij^. 
jniles. 

The distance from Piedras Negras, in Coahuila, situated 
opposite the town of Eagle Pass, in Texas, to the agricultural 
town of Nava, where forage, lodging and good water can be had. 



212 

is twenty-six miles. From the town of Nava to the old town and 
fort of Peyotes, it is eight miles. From the town of Peyotes to the 
San Diego cave and ranch, on the arroyo (creek) of the same name* 
it is thirteen miles. 

From San Diego, where the desert is reached, to a stopping 
place known as El Potrillo, is distant forty-two miles ; here v/ater 
is scarce, but seven miles further the river Sabinas is reached, and 
forded at the passo del coche, a short distance below a small vil- 
lage ; total distance, forty-nine miles. 

From the passo del coche to the large hacienda del Alamo de 
los Borregos, on Alamo river, it is about ten miles. At this place 
lodging, forage and good water can be found. 

From the Alamo to the arroyo of el Saus, where the water is 
generally bad, it is distant thirteen miles. The road is level to the 
city and old fort of La Punta de Lampasas ; distance, fifteen miles. 

Lampasas has some irrigable lands. A mine of some value was 
formerly worked in its vicinity. In former times it was established as 
a frontier post, where a company of Spanish troops were stationed. 
The soldiers used a sort of armor called " escopilla," which was 
entirely arrow-proof. Some years ago many of these accoutrements 
could still be seen, as they were preserved as curiosities. The 
people of Lampasas manufacture good Mexican blankets. Opposite 
this town is the (table) Mesa de los Cartuhanes, a plateau that 
rises about two thousand feet above the surrounding plain. On 
this plateau there is good water, good grass, and timber is found ; 
its extent is about twenty miles from north to south, and fifteen 
from east to west, and is only accessible from one point. In old 
times it was an Ind'a i hiding place. It is now the property of Don 
Patricio Milmo, a rich merchant and proprietor, of Irish descent, 
who is transforming it into one of the finest stock ranches in this 
part of Mexico. 

ROUTE NO. 3. 

From San Antonio de la Punta de Latnpasas, in Nuevo Leon, 
passing- through Laredo. — Saji Antonio to Laredo, lyo 
miles ; Laredo to La Punta, yg miles ; making together 24g 
miles. 
From San Antonio to Laredo, in Webb county, plenty of 

water, good grass, and stores where supplies can be procured, are 



213 

found on the different roads ; its distance being 170 or 180 miles. 
The best road is by crossing the Medina at the old Presidio crossing 
or above, and taking the Castroville and old Fort Ewell road. By 
this road you avoid the sand. The Frio has a good ford near the 
Waul pasture, and from thence rolling hills to Fort Ewell where 
the Nueces is forded or ferried according to the season. Here is a 
little village and store provided with everything the traveler needs. 
From here to Laredo it is seventy miles, mostty through an open 
country. 

Nev/ Laredo is situated opposite Old Laredo, of which it 
formed a part before Texas was separated from Mexico. It is also 
improving very fast, as some large foreign importing houses have 
established depots for their goods at this place. 

From New Laredo to the Aguaje of Las Habras del Maiz, 
fifteen miles; from Habras del Maiz to the Aguaje la Lomeria, 
road good between hills, the Peyotes chain ; distance, fifteen miles ; 
Aguaje la Lomeria, road level through a bottom of huisache to the 
Rio Salado ; distance, fifteen miles. From Rio Salado to Rancho 
la Barranca of Mogina, road over a prairie to the ranch ; distance, 
thirteen miles. From Mogina to the town of La Punta de Lam- 
pasas, crossing this side of the town, the San Matias river, partly 
covered with mesquites, is distant eleven miles. In dry seasons 
water and grass are more scarce on this route than on that from San 
Antonio to Monterey by way of Piedras Negras, particularly the 
distance from Laredo la Punta. 

ROUTE NO. 4. 

JFro?n the town of Lampasas to Villa Alda7na, Salinas and Mon~ 
te7'y, distance, loj miles. 

From the town of La Punta de Lampasas to the ranch of Golon- 
drinas the road is rough. Here are pens for animals, and a good well 
and tank. This rancho is a stock farm formerly belonging to the 
Hacienda del Canizal. It is tv/enty-one miles from Lampasas, and 
six miles further is the rancho of Lagunillas, formerly belonging 
also to the Carrizal, where good water and forage can be had. 
Here comes in the straight road from El Sauz through the town 
of Santiago de Valladares, leaving the town of Lampasas to the 
right. From the Lagunillas to Villa Aldama it is ten miles. 



2l4 

Villa Aldama, formerly known as Boca de Leones, is a town of 
some importance owing to the mines situated near it, which were 
formerly of great profit. To-day a large amount of lead silver is 
extracted from these mines, also containing silver. The mineral is 
galena. At this place was located a hospital used as a resting place for 
the Franciscan Friars and other priests, who attended the missions 
of Texas while traveling between Mexico, Guadalajara and Texas. 
Its population is mostly descendants of Spaniards. About two 
leagues north-west of this place is the town of Tlaxcala, also known 
as San Miguel Aguayo, and presently as Bustamente, settled by 
people from the original Tlaxcaltec tribe. It is a pretty little vil- 
lage where cultivated gardens could produce all kinds of fruit and 
vegetables. From this village a good road through the Gap of 
Tlaxcala leads to the Bajan well. The distance from Villa Aldama 
to Las Cuevas, a stopping place, is ten miles. 

From Las Cuevas to the Hacienda de Palo Blanco the road is 
through a palm forest, not bad, but heretofore considered dangerous 
on account of Indians ; distance, fifteen miles. At this large ranch^ 
water and forage can be procured. 

From Palo Blanco to the pueblo of Los Morales, passing 
through a forest of palm trees, is the pass of La Gacha, a noted 
place for Indians in former days, and further down the valley is Los 
Morales, where forage and water can be had. This road is eight 
miles. 

From the rancho of Los Morales, over rolling prairie to the 
town of Salinas Victoria, it is seven miles. 

The town of Salinas Victoria, situated on the river of the same 
name, has a fine church, well-paved streets, a good square, and 
presents a neat appearance. Its people cultivate the soil, raise 
stock and work the silver mines in the caiion de Salinas. The 
metal is galena and is easily smelted ; population, about 4,000 peo- 
ple. Orange trees were formerly cultivated here in the open air. 

From Salinas to the City of Monterey the road is veiy good, 
and six miles before reaching the city the road passes the village of 
La Etanzuela, a beautiful place shaded with a stately forest and fruit 
trees. From Salinas to Monterey the distance is twenty-six miles. 

Monterey, capital of the State of Nuevo Leon (formerly the New 
Kingdom of Leon) is situated 25" 40' 6" north, and longitude o*' 49' 
o" of the City of Mexico, on the river of the same name, which is 



215 

sometimes called Rio de Santa Catarina. It is 602^ miles distant 
from the City of Mexico, and 1,626 feet above the level of the sea. 
It is probable that this portion of Mexico was conquered by the 
celebrated Spanish Gen. Francisco de Urdinola, sumamed " El 
Viego " to distinguish him from his son who was also a distinguished 
warrior. It was probably thirty years after the conquest of Mexico 
by Cortez, that Urdinola conquered this portion of Mexico from the 
Chichimecas (the Spaniards were in the habit of calling all wild 
tribes of Indians, Chichimecas) ; no exact date is, however, fixed for 
the foundation of Monterey. It was first named after Santa Lucia, 
a beautiful spring situated in the heart of the city. It is v/ell known 
from the archives that in 1 569, that portion of the country was 
known as the New Kingdom of Leon, that it had a Governor, etc. 
In 1569, Don Luis de Caravajal, was Governor at the City of Leon 
(now Monterey), then the capital of the New Kingdom, and in 1 596 
Don Diego de Montemayor solemnly founded the metropolis of our 
Lady of Monterey, the present city. ' 

Monterey is built mostly of stone, has several fine churches, a 
good hospital, a college, a convent of sisters of charity, a spacious 
city hall, several well paved squares ornamented with shade trees 
and stone benches ; it has several good hotels, and one of the best 
populations in Mexico. Its people seem to be more industrious than 
their neighbors. Among the noted buildings is the Bishop's palace, 
which is situated on a hill west of the city, on the right of the Sal- 
tillo road. The Black Fort is situated north of the city, and was 
intended for a cathedral, but has been used as a fort, and since the 
downfall of Maximilian this property has been donated to meritori- 
ous soldiers. The convent of San Francisco is now used as a jail. 
The Governor's palace, now stands where the Jesuits formerly had 
a church and school. 

Monterey has a good market, and fine gardens where the 
orange tree grows indigenous without any attention. Its climate is 
warm, but is much tempered by the breeze that comes through the 
valley of Juahuco, situated between the Sierra Madre Mountains 
and the mountain of La Silla, the saddle mountain. Population, 
40,000 souls. 

To Santa Catarina, the road to Saltillo, after following the 
main street of the city, leads to the foot of the hill where the 
Bishop's palace is situated, leaving the Monterey River to the left. 



216 

and a high ridge of hills situated south of it. The road is good but 
a little rocky. Beyond the Bishop's palace hill is another hill called 
Independence Hill, upon which it is said the American army in 1 847 
mounted a gun that commanded the Bishop's palace and finally 
caused it to surrender ; the gun, I believe, was under the command 
of Lieutenant, now Comander-in-chief of the United States army, 
W. T. Sherman. The road then follows the beautiful Cerro de la 
Mitra, a high mountain, rich in galena, silver, marble, alabaster 
and plaster of Paris. To the left, about eight or ten miles, is 
the Sierra Madre, which looks as if it was within reach. The next 
place is the Molino of Jesus Maria, one of the largest wheat mills in 
the country- A little further on the road passes an important cot- 
ton factory, which v/as cstabhshed by an American called Steel, one 
of nature's noblemen, who, through friendship to Gen. Trevino, was 
killed in some revolutionary engagement, fighting on Gen. Trevino 's 
side. At a short distance further is an aiameda, the road being 
surrounded by fields ' as far as the town of Santa Catarina. Dis- 
tance, four leagues from Monterey. The road is very good, being an 
inclined plane of pretty heavy grade. One passes the rancho of 
Carabajal, to reach a point called El Alto, v/here is found a pretty 
good Mexican hotel, and forage for animals. From this point the 
road still leads down the valley of the hacienda de la Rinconada, 
leaving the hacienda to the right, and turning to the left is a point 
situated on a high hill between the mountains, called Lcs Muertos, 
and another of the Sierra Madre Mountains. It is said that the 
Mexican Gen. Ampudia intended to stop Gen. Taylor's advance at 
this point and had begun fortifying it. It can be added here that a 
few determined men with artillery could stop a v/hole army, but it 
has a great disadvantage as it could be easily turned, first by the 
pass of Santa Catarina to the left, and by the pass leading to Pes- 
queria on the right, and v/as therefore abandoned by the Mexicans. 
Los Muertos is the dividing line between the States of Nuevo Leon 
and Coahuila. It has always been considered a dangerous point 
for robbers and Indians. The road leads down hill to a poor little 
rancho called los Muertos, and from there it rises ; you rea.ch the 
hacienda of San Gregorio, where forage and accommodation can be 
had for travelers. This place is twenty-one miles to Saltillo. The 
straightest road being by way of el Jarral. Another good road is 
bv the hacienda of Santa Maria. 



217 



ROUTE NO. 5. 

From Piedras Negras by way of Monclova, leavitig otit Sa?ita 
Rosa a7id travelzfig the straightest and best road, where 
water and forage are found at all seasons of the year — lyo 
miles. From Moficlova to Saltillo, IJ4 miles. 

From the town of Piedras Negras, opposite Eagle Pass in 
Texas, over a good road crossing the Rio Escondido and one creek 
with good water, it is thirty miles to the town of San Fernando de 
Rosa, known at present as Saragoza. The town has a good church 
soldiers's quarters; it is principally built of stone, and adobe houses 
Avith flat roofs ; has very good irrigable lands, and cultivates, with 
profit, wheat, corn, sugar-cane and beans. Its population is about 
6,000 people. 

From Saragoza to the Cabecerra Springs, passing the rancho 
of La Sorra, it is about ten miles. From Cabecerra Springs through 
the plains of San Jose to the tov/n of San Juan de Sabinas it is 
forty-two miles ; a little further on Alamo River is crossed. A little 
this side of the Alamo River a road to the right leads to Santa 
Rosa, about 13 miles distant from the Alamo. 

From San Juan de Sabinas to the village of La Aura, the road 
is good. Distance, twenty-four miles. 

From the village of La Aura to the stock rancho of Lampasi- 
tos it is twenty-one miles. From Lampasitos to the hacienda of 
Hermanas it is thirteen miles. This was a rich grain and stock 
place at one time. 

(Santa Rosa was made headquarters of the military department 
of the eastern international provinces, after the decree of the court 
of Spain ordering the international province of New Spain to be 
divided in two separate departments, had been carried out, in the 
year 1788. The province of Tejas formed a part of this military 
department, and Colonel Don Juan de Ugalde was appointed 
its commanding general. This ofhcer having concentrated his forces 
which consisted of the presidio troops, militia and a few auxiliaries, 
made a successful campaign against the Indians in the year 17S9, 
which ended in a complete destruction of the combined forces of 
the wild Indians in the canon de Uvalde, Uvalde Co., Texas (this 
has by mistake been altered, and should be Ugalde, as the canon 



218 

was named after the distinguished Spanish officer). This great 
success so completely demoralized the Indians that they kept at 
peace with the Spaniards until the revolution broke out. Santa 
Rosa was almost entirely washed away by a great freshet that took 
place about the beginning of this century. It is now a large town, 
and the silver mines situated in its vicinity, and which are now 
developed by American capital and industry, will give it greater 
importance.) 

The distance from Hermanas to the springs known as Ojo 
Caliente, which are famous throughout the country and are recom- 
mended for rheumatism and syphilitic diseases, is three miles. 
From the Hot Springs to the Salado River it is about four miles. 
From the Salado River to a point called Los Adjuntas it is ten 
miles. Thence following the margin of the Rio de Monclova to 
the city of Monclova, it is thirteen miles. 

From the city of Monclova, formerly the capital of Coahuila 
to the village Castano, the road, although broken, is good. Dis- 
tance, thirteen miles. 

From Castano to the Estanque del Marquez, level road, over 
an open country, covered with scattering mesquite. Distance, 
thirteen miles. 

From El Estanque del Marquez to the rancho de Bajan, good 
road. Distance, fifteen miles. Forage doubtful. Here is to be found a 
good well of fresh water. This point in the desert has become cele- 
brated on account of it being the place where Padre Hidalgo, the 
Generalisimo of the Insurgents and leader of the first Mexican 
struggle for independence, was captured with all his retinue, after 
having lost the battle of Puente de Calderon, and while making his 
way to the United States, by Colonel Elisondo, the same that was 
afterwards defeated at the battle of the Alazan, one mile from San 
Antonio, in 1813. This important event — the capture of Hidalgo, 
took place on the morning of the 21st of March, 181 1. The 
remainder of Hidalgo's army was dispersed, 893 prisoners taken, 
and 40 killed ; 24 pieces of artillery and 3 swivels, and over half 
a million in silver taken, besides many officers and all the leaders 
of the revolution — Hidalgo, Allende, Jimenes, Aldama, Ballezo, 
Abasolo, Camargo, Lanzagorta, Mariano Hidalgo, brother of the 
curate, who was Treasurer-General of the Insurgents, and many 



219 

others. This important capture virtually ended the revolution of 
Hidalgo. 

From Bajan to Anhelo, the road is good, one and a half miles to 
the hills, then over a level prairie, ten miles, then about eight miles 
through a huisache thicket, to la punta del Espinaso (the point of 
the spine, w^hich is the end of a spur of high mountains), where 
there is a small rancho and a tank of water ; here a fork of roads 
leads to the city of Parras. It is a disagreeable place on account of 
of three gaps in the different ranges of mountains ; high winds 
prevailing all the year around. 

From La Punta the road is good, having the mountains of 
Espinazo to the south ; for twenty-five miles it is level to la punta 
de Anhelo ; from la punta to the rancho of Anhelo it is six miles 
over a good road. 

Anhelo has a fine tank, some good buildings, and is a grain 
country where large quantities of oats are raised. Distance from 
Bajan to Anhelo, fifty miles and a half. 

From Anhelo to the rancho of Mesillas, good road for seven 
and a half miles to the hills (cerrito), where there is a small rancho 
called Los Cerritos ; then two and a half miles to the arroyo del 
Barreal, and from there seven and a half miles over a good road to 
Mesillas. Distance from Anhelo to Mesillas, seventeen and a half 
miles. 

From Mesillas (aguaje) of la cuesta del Cabrito, three miles 
level road and seven miles of broken, rough road to la Cuesta. 
Distance from Mesillas, ten miles. At this point Don Francisco 
Guilbeau was attacked by a band of robbers from Saltillo, which he 
succeeded in driving off with his brave Mexicans from San 
Antonio. It was about the year 1848. This place has been con- 
sidered dangerous from Indians and robbers. 

From La Cuesta del Cabrito to the city of Saltillo the road 
leads up the Cabrito hill, and is good to the hacienda de Capellania, 
four miles. A very pretty place, where Dr. Hewitson, many years 
ago, erected a cotton factory. This place used to be General 
Taylor's favorite ride at the time he was in Saltillo. Then four 
miles to the rancho de los Bosques, which is situated between two 
little peaks. This is also a pretty place. Then over a level road 
six miles to the city, making the whole distance from the Cuestx 
del Cabrito to Saltillo fifteen miles. 



220 

From Monclova to Saltillo, 121 miles. Over this road, when 
the season is good, grass and water are found, but in dry times it 
is a hard road to travel. General course of road, south X degree 
south-east, 

ROUTE NO. 6. 

Fro77i the City of Saltillo, the capital of the State of Coahuila, to 
the City of Sa7t Lttis Potosi, capital of the State of the same 
name, 266 Americati miles. 

Saltillo.— The City of Saltillo, the present capital of the State, 
formerly province of Coahuila, to which Texas was at one time 
attached, is a well-built city with paved streets, situated on the 
slope of a ridge that crosses the whole valley coming from Mon- 
terey : after leaving the hacienda of San Gregorio you have it in 
sight. In the valley of Saltillo several important cotton factories 
have been established for the manufacture of unbleached cotton 
goods, and are doing well. This city is situated 25° 25' 15'' north 
latitude, and longitude i^ 31' 30^' west, from the City of Mexico; 
its population is estimated at 17,000; it has several hotels, and 
stores supplied with all kinds of goods. A considerable trade in 
goat and sheep skins is carried on here, and the country about pro- 
duces wheat. Saltillo has a fine parochial church fronting on its 
main square ; the church of the convent of San Esteban a convent 
for the sisters of charity, who keep a school for girls, with its chapel 
situated on the main street ; an abandoned church used at present 
as a soldiers' barracks (this latter was built by the Jesuits) ; there 
is also a fine amphitheatre for bull fighting, situated on the 
square of San Esteban. The beautiful alameda is one of the pret- 
tiest parks of the kind in Mexico. On the hill to the southward of 
the city, is a small fort built during the empire. 

Isi"oTE.— This city and its surroundings afford much entertainment for travelers 
or tourists. Its gardens, its maguey plantations, and a hundred other objects, are 
equally interesting to the stranger. 

Buena Vista. — From Saltillo to the hacienda of Buena Vista 
the road is good for four miles and then rough to the hacienda. 
Passing Angostura, the traveler reaches La Encantada (enchanted 
ranch). This is the place where the American army, under Gen. 



221 

Taylor, was encampea, at the time of the approach of Santa Ana 
with his army of 25,000 men. Previous to the battle of Buena 
Vista, Gen. Taylor, not finding this position a good one, fell back 
and took position at Angostura, the narrowest point of the valley. 
This pass lies between two ridges of mountains, five or six miles 
apart, which approach to the north-east until at Angostura the 
space is not more than two miles ; the eastern range is much the 
highest, rising more than 1,200 feet above the plateau ; the western 
range is about half that height. The plateau from the eastern 
ridge extends about a mile or half way across the valley, where it 
drops off abruptly to the first or alluvial plain. In this plain 
runs a small rivulet, which takes its rise at Encantada, but at times, 
after heavy rains, it becomes so large that it has cut for itself a 
deep bed, with perpendicular banks of thirty to forty feet deep ; 
this bed is quite inaccessible from above, except in a few 
places. These deep gullies or ravines are called " barrancas," and 
peculiar to the country ; the tenacity of the soil prevents it from 
crumbling except at the base where the water washes it away, the 
portion projecting until it becomes so much undermined that it 
cannot sustain itself, and breaks off, leaving perpendicular walls. 
These barrancas extend for more than a mile above and below the 
narrow pass of Angostura, and also intersect at various points in 
the flat, rendering it impossible for a body of troops to traverse it. 
Hence all the operations of the battle were confined to the plateau 
above, which extends to the eastern range of mountains ; the bat- 
tery of Col. Washington was stationed between the barrancas and 
a spur of the plateau forming a narrow pass of some sixty or 
seventy feet in width. (This is the substance of a description of 
the battle-field as given by J. R. Bartlett, and the correct one.) 

At La Encantada, the road to Parras forks to the right. From 
Monterey to this point, a distance of about seventy-six miles, the 
traveler rises 4,478 feet, as Encantada, according to Dr. Wislizenas, 
is 6,140 feet above the sea. Over a rough road you reach the 
hacienda of Agua Nueva, distant from Saltillo twenty-one and 
a-half miles. At Agua Nueva plenty of good water can be found, 
and comfortable rooms in the buildings of the haciendas ; forage, 
corn and large corrals for animals. In good times this place could 
accommodate six or eight hundred animals. Beyond the hacienda 
is the pass of Agua Nueva, where Gen. Taylor had his advance 



222 

guard ; the road up the pass is very good and leads down to a val- 
ley about two miles wide to another pass called Puerto del Camero. 

This has been a point celebrated for the exploits of robbers 
and Indians, and here a battle was fought between General Jimenes, 
commanding the revolutionary forces of Mexico, and Colonel Cor- 
dero, Governor of Coahuila, on the 9th of January, 181 1. Most of 
Cordero's forces having passed over to the so-called insurgents, he 
fled towards Messillas on the road to Mexico, was captured and 
well treated by Jimenes. Three days after this battle, a royalist 
force that came to reinforce Cordero, consisting of 700 men from 
Zacatecas and four pieces of artillery, commanded by Colonel 
Ochoa", found Jimenes occupying the pass with 8,000 men ; a battle 
ensued, which terminated in the retreat of Ochoa. 

From this pass the eye reaches far away, as the country is 
open ; the road is good. Passing a point called Messillas you reach 
Tanque la Vaca, where plenty of good water is found in the tank. 
This stock ranch was abandoned on account of Indians. It is now 
the town of Gomez Farias with a population of 400 souls. It is 
said that in its neighborhood are very rich silver mines that have 
never been worked. Distant twenty-one and three-quarter miles 
from Tanque la Vaca is the hacienda de la Encarnacion. 

In this place lodging can be had for several hundred people, 
plenty of forage, also well-water and a good tank. The population 
of the hacienda is over 200 people ; it is a large stock ranch. 

At Tanque la Vaca the road forks, the left-hand road goes to 
the ranch of Jesus Maria, situated eight miles east of Encarnacion, 
and to that of La Ventura, a small stock ranch about six miles 
this side of the San Salvador rancho comes into the direct road 
from Encarnacion to San Salvador ; it is a plain good road ; course, 
south X south-east ; distance, twenty-six miles. La Ventura has 
been made a fine hacienda ; it is now the property of Gen. Trevino. 

San Salvador is also a stock ranch, whose population is about 
1,500 hundred souls. Here is a well and a tank of sweet water. 
San Salvador to the little rancho of San Miguel, which consists of 
only two houses. Here is a good well but nothing else ; it is eight 
and a-half miles to the hacienda del Salado, one of the largest 
estates in Mexico, as it contains over 885,600 acres of land, all well 
adapted to stock raising, and over one-half well adapted to the 
raising of small grams ; cotton could also be raised with advantage. 



223 

This vast estate is covered with natural productions such as the 
maguey {agave Americana), the lechuguilla, Xho-ptta, the zoloman- 
doqiie, the zotol and other plants whose fibre, if properly exploited, 
would bring an immense income. Water and grass abounds all over 
the estate. The various Cordilleras that run from south to north 
on the lands of this estate are covered with innumerable metallic 
veins rich in silver, lead copper, gold and other metals. At this 
place, which will hereafter be a railroad centre, good accomodations 
can always be found. 

From El Salado to Las Animas the road is good, through a 
vast plain, mountains in view in the distance ; general course, 
south, south one-quarter west ; distance, eighteen miles. Las Ani- 
mas is a stock ranch belonging formerly to the hacienda del Salado ; 
there is good enclosure ; water not plentiful, and very salty on ac- 
count of the quantity of nitrate of potash it contains ; forage plentiful. 
Las Animas to La Punta de Vanegas : general course of the road, 
south, south-west ; road good, through plain covered with palm 
trees. At tkis point the road to San Luis Potosi, forks, the shortest 
is to the right by way of San Cristobal, hacienda de Guadaloupe, 
El Canicero, and that of Laguna Seca, leaving the mountain of 
Catorce that rises several thousand feet above the plain to the 
left ; and the other route, which leads to the left by the hacienda of 
San Juan de Vanegas, the mining towns of Cedral, Matehuala and 
hacienda de Solis, and leaving the mountain of Catorce to the right, 
coming into the other road at Laguna Seca. I will describe the 
shortest by way of San Cristobal : 

La Punta de Vanegas is a good ranch, belonging to the 
hacienda of the same name ; it has a fine tank of good sweet w^ater ; 
and contains about twenty houses. Three miles further on is the 
hacienda of San Juan de Vanegas ; distance, from Las Animas, 
twenty-one miles. 

San Juan de Vanegas is a very large hacienda where ore 
from the Catorce mines is worked both by smelting and by patio, 
or cold amalgamation process. It raises large crops of grain and 
all kinds of stock ; there is a beautiful bath about half a mile from 
the hacienda ; it is a bountiful spring that comes out of a grotto 
hollowed out of the granite ; the water is clear and beautiful and 
possesses no mineral taste although it comes out of the Catorce 
Mountain which is one of the richest in Mexico. 



224 

From San Juan de Vanegas to San Cristobal, the road lies over 
small hills covered with brush and palm trees to a place called Las 
Ratas (the rats) w^here there is a house and a good well. From there 
the road is over a large plain, the mountain of Catorce to the left, 
and a range of mountains to the right, in the distance ; general course 
of road, south, south-west ; distance, sixteen miles. San Cristobal 
consists of about twenty small houses, inhabited by about a hun- 
dred poor people ; they generally get their forage from San Juan 
de Vanegas or the Real de Catorce. Nothing can be had here but 
kids or sheep ; there is a well and a tank, but the water is bad. 

From San Cristobal to the hacienda of Guadaloupe el Cami- 
cero. Half a mile takes you to the hacienda of San Miguel, where 
minerals from Catorce are smelted ; its buildings are good. You pass 
the rancho of San Rafael and of El Refugio, insignificant places, 
the latter distant eight miles from Guadaloupe. The road is through 
a large plain to the hacienda, general course of road south ; distance, 
twenty-one and one-third miles. This hacienda is also a stock 
ranch ; it has a little chapel and a population of 1 50 souls ; has 
good enclosures and good lodgings ; forage can be had here. From 
this place a road leads to the city of Catorce, a Mexican Leadville 
in former days, situated in a depression on top of the Catorce 
mountain, and containing 20,000 inhabitants ; it is about eighteen 
miles from this hacienda to the city. The wealth of its mines was 
such that at one time a mint was established at that place ; one of 
the principal miners is a wealthy Spaniard, Don Santos de la Massa. 

Prom Guadaloupe el Carnicero to the hacienda of Laguna 
Seca, road hilly for some distance to the pass of Messillas, where 
there is a ranch consisting of twelve or fifteen houses, and an 
enclosure of stone about 500 yards in length. To the left of the 
road, about half a mile further on, is the rancho of Mata Pulgas 
(kill fleas). At one time an old friendly Indian kept the only house 
in the place, and would graciously furnish the traveler with a good 
meal and a glass of mescal. Road through a vast plain, small 
hillock to the right of the road ; to the ranch of El Berendo, where 
there is a tank of good water ; road south-west, with a small chain 
of hills to the left, leaving a tank to the right. A mile further on 
you reach the hacienda of Laguna Seca, distant from Guadaloupe 
el Carnicero fifteen miles. Laguna Seca was at one time one cf the 
richest haciendas of the State of San Luis ; it was celebrated for 



its good horses ; it has good buildings ; lodging and forage can be 
obtained here ; population, about one hundred. 

From hacienda de Laguna Seca to hacienda de los Charcos, 
road with stone wall sometimes to the left and sometimes to the 
right for a long distance, and finally the wall to the right and hills 
to the left to Charcos, fifteen miles. Charcos has a church ; forage 
and lodging can be had; this was at one time a large grain 
hacienda. 

From the hacienda de los Charcos to the city of El Venado. 
Leaving Los Charcos, the road runs between a stone wall to the 
right and within gunshot, a range of hills for about eight miles, 
when the rancho of Laborcillo is reached, which consists of one 
good house, situated in an open plain, and commands a good view 
of the country ; for three miles the earth is very white, to the 
rancho del Troncon, where there is a good house. Here we begin 
to enter the cactus country; course of road south-west to the 
rancho of San Sabino, a village of huts ; a mile and a half further 
on, crossing a stone bridge over a ravine in which flows a small 
stream, the city of El Venado is reached ; distance from Los Char- 
cos, thirteen miles. The city of El Venado is situated in a hollow 
surrounded by hills ; it is a paved city, has two large churches and 
a cotton factory. I estimate its population at 8,000 inhabitants ; 
the people cultivate the soil and manufacture very good blankets. 

From the city of El Venado to La Hedionda, sometimes called 
Montezuma, course of road south-west one-quarter west, level, 
passing through a large " potrero " (pasture) enclosed by a stone 
wall, the ranch del Garatillo is reached ; then over hills to the town 
of La Hedionda. 

The little stream that the road crosses before entering the 
town is so impregnated with sulphur that it is disagreeable to 
drink. This place is surrounded by shade and fruit trees ; it is 
really a beautiful place, an oasis in the desert ; forage abundant ; 
population, about 3,000 ; its people are mainly engaged in cultivating 
the soil ; distance, thirteen miles. 

From la Hedionda to Bocas, a large hacienda, the road is 
generally good ; passing through maguey hedges, then up hill to 
the hacienda de la Monterilla, about six miles from la Hedionda ; 
about three miles further on, a lone hill is seen to the left of the 
road ; a short distance from the road, to the right, is a large grange 



(troja), where there is a good well of water, then over plain to 
rancho del Colorado, which is about half way between la Hedionda 
and Bocas ; course, west-south-west, up a pass the road becomes 
rocky to the huisache rancho ; then over hill to the rancho de las 
Sartenegas ; then over a plain covered with cactus and maguey, 
crossing the bed of a dry creek about 600 yards from the hacienda, 
Bocas is reached ; distance, twenty-one and a half miles. 

The hacienda de Bocas was one of the richest in the State of 
San Luis ; it is built of rock on a small plateau ; it has a square 
surrounded by substantial buildings ; a neat church, a (meson) 
hotel with good rooms and large court yard well paved ; it has a 
fine orchard surrounded by high walls ; an alameda of large trees 
leads from the hacienda to the " huerta " (orchard) and to the dam, 
which is a fine piece of masonry, closing the outlet of a creek as it 
comes out between two hills. It is several hundred yards long and 
about fifty feet high, forming a beautiful lake, from which the water is 
taken to irrigate the large fields of the hacienda ; on the right hand 
of the dam is a pretty little chapel. During the Mexican revolution 
the owner of this hacienda mounted and equipped a squadron at 
his own expense, to sustain the cause of the King of Spain. It 
was, until a few years ago, the property of the Countess of Perez 
Galvez, one of the descendants of the Vice-Roy Galvez, and was 
almost ruined by the different factions that took possession of it ; 
at present it is in good workmg order. 

From Bocas to the hacienda del Penasco. Leaving the 
hacienda the road is rocky and up hill through the Tinajeula pass, 
when the high plateau of Anahuac is reached ; from the rancho de 
Tinajeula to the hacienda del Penasco, quantities of maguey and 
cactus are found. Passing several houses on the way, in a Httle 
plain before reaching the hacienda, is a curious formation in the 
shape of a lone hill formed of balsatic columns, hence the name, 
" Penasco." The hacienda has a population of about a thousand 
people ; good buildings and its fields enclosed by stone walls. Large 
crops of grain and extensive plantations of maguey are its principal 
resources. Distance from Bocas, eighteen miles. 

From the hacienda del Penasco to the city of San Luis the 
road is good and settled, passing through maguey and cactus of all 
kinds. About six miles this side of the city a fine causeway is 



227 

reached, which is shaded by stately trees all the way to the Indian 
town of Tlaxcala, a suburb of San Luis Potosi. 

San Luis Potosi is seen in the distance as soon as the plateau 
above Bocas is reached, for at least twenty-five miles ; it presents, 
with its eighteen domes and towers, a beautiful appearance, looking 
in the distance like a Moorish city. The city of San Luis Potosi, 
capital of San Luis Potosi, is situated on the east side of the grand 
plateau of Anahuac, in a valley extending from north to south about 
forty-five miles, in latitude 22*^ 8' north and longitude i° 40' west 
of the city of Mexico. Its streets, although narrow, are straight 
and intersect at right angles. Among the principal buildings are the 
city hall, the granary, the market block and the theatre. This city 
possesses churches that rival any in Mexico ; among them may be 
particularly cited : " San Francisco," " El Carmen," " San Augus- 
tin." La Merced, the colleges of Loreto and San Nicolas, the hos- 
pital of San Juan de Dios, the chapel of El Rosario and of los 
Remedios, the Alameda, and the sanctuary of Guadaloupe, are all 
very interesting to visit on account of their architecture and the fine 
paintings some of them still possess. I suppose that the population 
of the city, with the suburbs of Tlaxcala, San Juan de Guadaloupe 
and San Miguelito, reaches to about 60,000 souls. This city, by 
its situation, when a railroad reaches it, will be one of the greatest 
commercial centres of the Republic. It carries on a great trade in 
groceries and home manufactures, such as leather, shoes, saddlery, 
roping, bagging, cassimeres, hats, blankets and grain. In its vicinity 
is situated the great San Pedro mine, out of which was taken the 
largest piece of solid gold found in America up to that time ; it 
was sent to the King of Spain as a present, and in return the King 
presented the cathedral with a beautiful clock, where, to this day, 
it strikes the hours. The pillars of this mine having been cut away 
and the mine has caved in. Competent engineers who have carefully 
examined this celebrated mine say that by an expenditure of two 
millions, from twelve to fifteen millions could be taken out of it. 



228 



ROUTE NO. 6. 

From the City of San Luis Potosi, capital of the State of the 
same nam.e, by way of San Miguel de Allende, to the City of 
Queretaro, capital of the State of Queretaro : j6o American 
miles. 

From the city of San Luis Potosi to the city of Queretaro, 
capital of the Sta/e of Queretaro, level road to Los Posos : six 
miles. 

From Los Posos to the town of San Francisco, a place of 
about 5,000 inhabitants, the road is good ; distance, twenty-six 
miles. 

From San Francisco to Ojo dei Gato, road story and hilly ; 
three miles. 

To Rancho de las Russias, partly hilly and partly level ; dis- 
tacen, five miles. 

To the hacienda del Jaral, road level, through a forest con- 
sisting principally of " huisache " and " arbol del Peru," a species of 
mesquite ; distance, eight miles. 

El Jaral was at one time probably the largest estate in Mexico, 
as it worked or owned twenty thousand peones. It has a fine church 
and a chapel of red granite, where the remains of the family of the 
Marquez del Jaral, Count of Moncada, are buried. It is a grain 
and stock farm ; it was renowned for its horses, and when the 
revolution of Hidalgo broke out, in September, 1810, the Count of 
Moncada raised, mounted and equiped from his estate one whole 
regiment of cavalry, of which he was the Colonel, in favor of the 
King's arms ; he greatly aided with his men, money and influence 
General Calleja, the Spanish commander, at San Luis Potosi, in 
quelling the revolution and re-establishing the King's authority. 
Afterwards, when Mina, with 300 men, invaded Mexico, having 
marched from Soto la Marina to el Jaral, he levied heavy contribu- 
tion on this hacienda, where he found in specie alone the sum cf 
$180,000. 

The road runs between adobe and stone walls of this hacienda 
for nearly thirty miles. Between El Jaral and La Russia is the 
dividing line between the State of San Luis and that of Guana- 



229 

juato. From El Jaral to San Bartolo, partly through a forest 
before reaching the hacienda, seven and a half miles. 

Road a little rough, up the hill of San Bartolo, for six miles 
to the town of San Felipe, a place of about 5,000 or 6,000 
inhabitants. 

From San Felipe to the hacienda de la Quemada, road level 
through rich cultivated fields of wheat and com. In this portion 
of Mexico two crops are raised annually, mostly by irrigation. The 
water, during the rainy season, is gathered in large tanks and used 
in the dry season. The mountains to the right of the road are 
among the richest in silver in the Republic. At La Quemada a 
stage hotel is kept for the entertainment of travelers. Before 
reaching the hacienda you cross the dry bed of the Cubo River, 
which, during the rainy season, runs a mighty torrent. Distance 
from San Filepi, io>^ miles. 

From ranch La Quemada to the ranch de Laborcilla, road 
broken near La Quemada and broken before reaching the ranch ; 
distance, three miles. 

From the ranch de Laborcilla to the hacienda de Trancas, 
good road ; distance, ten miles. 

From the hacienda de Trancas to the city of Dolores Hidalgo, 
the road crosses the pass of el Gallinero, where there is fine quarries 
of mill and " metate " stone, a stone used by the Mexicans to grind 
com for their tortillas, a kind of com pan-cake, their principal arti- 
cle of food ; distance, ten miles. 

The city of Dolores Hidalgo has become celebrated on account 
of having been the parish of Padre Hidalgo, and the place from 
which he gave the first cry for the independence of Mexico, on the 
1 6th of September, 18 10. A Mexican chronicler says that " Don. 
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (that was the name of the hero of the 
first revolution) addressed the people from the balcony of his 
house." The misfortune is that the Padre's house being of one 
story, has no balcony ; it must be inferred that it was from the 
vs^indow : in fact, I was told this was the case by an old corporal 
who was among the few soldiers that were in that city at the time 
and was sent as a courier to carry the news to the city of San 
Miguel. The old corporal then belonged to the Queen's dragoons, 
a corps in which Allende, another hero of the revolution, was a 



230 

captain, and had been in 1865 installed a keeper of Padre Hidalgo's 
house by the Emperor Maximilian, where I met him. 

From the city of Dolores Hidalgo to the hacienda de la R, 
road level ; distance, five miles. 

From hacienda de la R to Atotonilco, road over barren hills ; 
distance, seven and a half miles. 

The town of Atotonilco is an Indian town, where there is a 
church with curious fresco paintings. 

From the town of Atotonilco to the fine city of San Miguel de 
AUende, the road is over barren hills ; just before arriving at the 
city the road crosses the bed of a river ; distance, seven and a half 
miles. 

San Miguel de Allende is a city of about 20,000 people ; its 
streets are well paved ; there are fine churches, a college and 
several squares, and the city presents a very neat appearance. It 
is situated on the declivity of a high hill and can be seen almost 
from Atotonilco. 

From San Miguel el Grande, as it was called before the Mexi- 
can independence, to the ranch de los Ricos, the road is level ; 
distance, fifteen miles. 

From Rancho de los Ricos to the town of Santa Rosa the 
road is hilly and stony (bad for robbers) ; distance, ten miles. 

From the town of Santa Rosa to the city of Queretaro the 
road is rough and hilly ; distance, thirteen miles. 

Queretaro, capital of the State of Oueretaro, was founded by 
the Aztecs in 1445 or 1446. It was conquered by the Spaniards 
under Don Fernando de Tapia, a lieutenant of Cortez, in July, 
1 53 1, and converted to the Christian religion by the Licenciado 
Don Juan Sanchez Alaniz, a celebrated secular priest. Its climate 
is temperate ; it is surrounded by gardens. This city has very fine 
churches and convents ; it is noted among the cities of Mexico for 
the great religious devotion of its people. Among the principal 
edifices the convents of San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Antonio, 
Santo Domingo, San Augustine and El Carmen are to be noted, 
also the hospital of la Merced. 

Although the city has irrigation ditches, water is brought to it 
by an aqueduct from the neighboring hills, some of the arches of 
which are ninety feet high. It was certainly a great piece of 
masonry at the time it was built, in the last century; it cost 



231 

$124,000, most of which sum was paid by Don Juan Antonio de 
Urutio y Arana, Marquis del Villar del Aguila, whom the Quere- 
tanos consider to this day the benefactor of the city. A statue of 
the Marquis exists on one of the squares. The city also boasts a 
fine Alameda. 

Near the city is the factory of " Herculus," one of the finest in 
the world. No traveler should pass Queretaro without visiting it. 
In 1866 it was the property of Don Francisco Rubio. It cost 
$4,000,000. It was worked by water, steam and horse power. It 
turned out 1,500 pieces of unbleached cotton daily, and at night 
run a large number of mill stones, grinding principally wheat. It 
has probably the highest overshot wheel in the world. The build- 
ings of the factory are of stone, and are surrounded by fine gardens, 
with artificial ponds, after the European st^de. Among the statues 
that adorn the grounds is that of " Herculus ;" it cost in Italy 
$15,000. The superintendents are very polite and have always a 
clerk at hand to show the stranger about this beautiful establish- 
ment. 

There are several hotels in Queretaro ; among the best is that 
of the " Red Eagle ; " the city has also a fine theatre. 

It was in this city that Maximilian sustained a siege against the 
liberal forces under Gen. Escobedo, which resulted, through the 
treachery of his bosom friend. Colonel Miguel Lopez, of the 
Empress' regiment, whom he had just made a general, and who 
betrayed him, in his surrender to Generals Palaclo and Escobedo, 
on the 19th of May, 1867. Maximilian was subsequently tried 
before a drum-head military tribunal, and shot, with his unfortunate 
companions, Gens. Miramon and Mejia, at the foot of the " Cerro 
de la Cruz," on the 19th of June, 1867. 

The dehcious climate of Queretaro, the abundance of fruits 
and flowers, the country produces, makes it a delightful place. 

ROUTE NO. 7. 

From Queretaro to the City of Mexico, the capital of the Repub. 
lie, IJ4 1-2 fniles. 

From Queretaro to the hacienda de la Noria, the road leads 
up a hill, called "Cuesta de China." There are very large 



232 

t 
cactus of several varieties on the road-side, among them the 
" organos." Distance, five miles. 

From La Noria to the hacienda del Colorado, road up hill 
through thickets, dangerous for robbers ; distance, five miles. 

From El Colorado to Arroyo Seco, level road ; distance, seven 
and a-half miles. 

From Arroya Seco to El Sauz, five miles. 

El Sauz to las Trojas Mocha, good road ; here road forks more 
direct to San Miguel Allende by v^ay of Chichimequillas, and cross- 
ing a river over a good stone bridge, the City of San Juan del Rio 
is reached ; distance, six miles. 

San Juan del Rio has been, and will be again, a large com- 
mercial centre, on account of its situation, as it is from this point 
that all roads to the interior branch out. It was, in former times, 
one of the greatest manufacturing cities of Mexico, renowned for 
its woolen textures. Its streets are wide and well paved, and at 
one time it had 20,000 inhabitants. 

From San Juan del Rio to hacienda de Palmillas, six miles. 

From Palmillas to San Antonio, a small town on a high plain, 
road rolling ; distance, seven and a-half miles. 

From San Antonio to Ruano, ten miles. 

From Ruano to Encinillas, down hill ; distance, five miles. 

From Encinillas to the hacienda of Arroyo Zarco ; the limits of 
this estate is the boundary line between the State of Queretaro and 
Mexico. It is a large grain estate, has a fine hotel and spacious 
yards for animals, also a fine cotton mill ; distance, four and a-half 
miles. 

At this place two stages meet daily — one coming from Mexico 
and the other from Queretaro ; they are large Concord coaches, 
carrying twelve passengers inside. 

From the hacienda of Arroyo Zarco the road goes up hill to 
the highest point reached on this route than Queretaro to Mexico, 
which is 9,675 feet above the level of the sea. 

This road runs through stunted pines, then goes over a road 
down hill to the village of San Miguelito de Capulalpan. This 
portion of the road is noted for robbers, so much so that the Mexi- 
can Government formerly sent an escort along with the stages. 
San Miguelito is a small Indian village, and is celebrated not only 
on account of the robberies committed in its neighborhood, as on 



f 



238 

account of the battle of the same name, fought between the Hberal 
forces commanded by Gen. Ortega, and the reactionists commanded 
by Gen. Miramon. 

From San MigueHto to San Francisco, Soyaniquilpan, a large 
Indian village, the road is over a rough hog-wallow prairie ; distance 
from Arroyo Zarco, thirteen miles. 

From San Francisco Soyaniquilpan to the hacienda de la Can- 
ada road is a little rough, then down hill ; a small rivulet is crossed 
over by a stone bridge to the hacienda, which has good buildings ; 
it is a grain plantation ; distance, ten miles. 

From the hacienda de la Canada to the large town of Tepehi 
del Rio, six miles. This place is located between a hill and the 
river of the same name ; has good buildings, fine gardens and 
stately shade trees. 

From the town of Tepehi del Rio to San Miguel you cross the 
Tepehi River, which is a fine mountain stream, crossed by a good 
stone bridge ; distance, nine miles. 

From San Miguel, a small rancho, to the large town of Cuatit- 
lan the distance is eleven miles. 

This place seems to be a very active business place ; its popu- 
lation may amount to 12,000 or more people. Going towards Mex- 
ico you pass a stone bridge over a river of the same name. It is 
said that Cortez entered the valley of Mexico at this point. Some 
years ago a rock on the left-hand side of the bridge, going towards 
the city, was still standing upon which was an inscription to that 
effect. Here you enter the beautiful valley of Mexico ; flowers and 
fruit abound. 

From Cuatitlan to the hacienda of la Lecheria (which is said to 
have been purchased by Maximilian at one time), distance, about 
three miles. 

From la Lecheria to the large Indian town of Tlalnepantla, 
distance, seven and a-half miles. This is a very pretty place, shad- 
owed by stately trees. 

From Tlalnepantla to the City of Mexico the distance is seven 
and a-half miles. 

You enter the city by the causeway of San Cosme, and pass 
the house built by Cortez, the conqueror of Mexico ; this house is 
to the left of road before passing the city gate, and which but few 
people have noticed. It should be visited. 



234 



DISTANCES 



IN MEXICAN LEAGUES FROM THE CITY OF MEXICO TO SOME 
OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIES OF THE REPUBLIC. 



From Mexico to — 
Aguas Calientes, 

Acapulco (sea port on the Pacific), 
San Bias (sea port on the Pacific), 
Colima (capital of CoHma), 
Culiacan (capital of Sinaloa), 
Chihuahua (capital of Chihuahua), 
Chiapas, 
Durango, 
Guanajuato, 
Guadalajara, 
Monterey, . 
Matamoros, 
Morelia, 
Merida, . 
Oajaca, 
Puebla, 
Queretaro, . 
San Luis Potosi, 
Saltillo, 

San Juan Bautista de Tabasco, 
Tanripico (by way of San Luis), . 
Tampico (by way of La Huastica), 

Textla, 

Toluca, 

Ures, 

Vera Cruz (sea port), 
Victoria (Tamaulipas), 
Zacatecas, .... 
La Paz (Lower California . . 
Tlaxcala, .... 



Leagues. 

132 
IIO 
210 
149 

333 
289 
203 
88 
161 

234 
326 

69 
386 
108 

28 

57 
114 
209 

239 
218 
103 

70 

16 
582 

93 
195 
130 
416 

28 



235 



Itinerary No. i. — Fro7n the City of Mexico to the Cities of Quere- 
taro, San Luis Potosi, Saltillo, Montery and Matamoros. 



From Mexico to — 
Cuautitlan, 
Tula, . 
Arroyozarco, 
San Juan del Rio, 
Queretaro, 
San Miguel, 
Dolores,, . 
San Felipe. . 
Eljaral, 
Valle, . 
San Luis, . 
Bocas, . 
El Venado, 
Laguna Seca, 
Guadaloupe, 
San Cristobal, 
La Parida, 
Salado, 

San Salvador, . 
Encarnacion, 
Agua Nueva, . 
Saltillo, 

Santa Maria, . 
La Rinconada. 
Santa Catarina, 
Monterey, 
Cadereyta, 
Ayancual, 
Salto, 
China, . 
Zacate, 
Noria, . 
Reynosa, . 
La Mesa, 
Matamoros, 
(328 leagues, or 863 and a 



Leagues. 


Total. 


• 7 





II 


18 


• 13 


31 


12 


43 


. 14 


57 


14 


71 


. 8 


79 


10 


89 


• 7 


96 


6 


102 


. 12 


114 


12 


126 


. II 


137 


9 


146 


. 5 


151 


8 


159 


. 8 


167 


10 


177 


• 7 


184 


9 


193 


. 8 


201 


8 


209 


. 6 


215 


7 


222 


. 8 


230 


4 


234 


• 9 


24s 


8 


251 


. 8 


259 


12 


271 


. II 


282 


12 


294 


. 13 


307 


10 


317 


. II 


328 



fraction American miles.) 



236 



No. 2. — From the City of Mexico to the port of Acapulco on the 
Pacific Ocean. 

From Mexico to- ^^"S"^^- "^^^^i" 

Tlalpan, ...... 4 o 

Venta del Arenal, ... 3 7 

Huichilaque, . . . . .6 13 

Cuernavaca, 4 17 

Sochiltepec, 5 22 

Puente de Ixtla, . '. . . 5 27 

Los Azuchiles, 6 33 

Tuxpan, 5 38 

Tepecoacuilco, .... 3 41 

Venta de Papula. .... 6 47 

Venta de Estola i 48 

Rio de Mezcalo, .... 5 53 

Venta del Zopilote, .... 7 60 

Zumpango, ..... 4 64 

Chilpancingo 3 d"] 

Hacienda de Acahuizotla, . . 7 74 

Hacienda de Bueua Vista, . . 4 "jZ 

Dos Caminos, .... 3 81 

Venta de Palo Gordo, ... 5 86 

Los Pozuelos, . . . . ' 7 93 

Dos Arroyos, 6 99 

Venta del Egido, .... 4 103 

Venta Viega, . . . ■ • 3 106 

Acapulco, 4 no 

(no leagues, or about 289^ miles.) 



JSfo. J. — From the City of Mexico to Queretaro, Guainlajara^ capi- 
tal of Jalisco, and the port of San Bias on the Pacific Ocean. 



From Mexico to — 
Tlalnepantla, . 
La Lecheria, 
Cuantitlan, 
Huehuetoca, 
Rancho de Bata, 



Leagues. Total. 



237 





Leagues. 


Total. 


Tula, 


3 


i8 


San Antonio, .... 


• 3 


21 


La Goleta, .... 


3K 


'2.\% 


Capulalpan, .... 


• 3 


28 


Arroyozarco, 


3 


31 


Tenazat, 


2 


33 


San Isidro, .... 


2 


35 


Palmillas, .... 


. 6 


41 


San Juan del Rio, 


2 


43 


Eljarez, 


. 5 


48 


Colorado, .... 


4 


52 


Queretaro, .... 


• 5 


57 


Rio Cuichiti, 


SV^ 


(yiYz 


Celaya, 


. 5K 


68 


Salamanca. . . 


6 


74 


Irapuato, 


4 


78 


Horcones, .... 


II 


89 


Punta de San Juan, . 


. aVz 


93>^ 


Hacienda de Frias, 


VA 


lOI 


Los Alamos, .... 


• 3 


104 


Sauz, 


8 


112 


Ranchos de Tierra Colorado, . 


• 4 


116 


Puente de Calderon, 


9 


125 


Rio Grande, .... 


• 3 


128 


Guadalajara, 


7 


135 


El Mezcal, .... 


5 


140 


Hacienda de Huasca, . 


6 


146 


Amatitan, .... 


• 4 


150 


Tequila, .... 


5 


155 


La Magdalena, 


ID 


165 


Rancho de Tepequiste, 


ID 


175 


Hacienda de Portezuelo, . 


■ 9 


184 


Las Barrancas, 


4 


188 


Ixtlan, 


. 9 


197 


Ag-uacatlan, 


4 


201 


Tetitan, ..... 


. 8 


209 


Santa Isabel, 


6 


215 


Zapotlan, .... 


• 5 


220 



238 



Leagues, 


Total 


San Leonel, .... 6 


226 


Tepic, 8 


234 


Guaristemba, .... 9 


243 


San Bias, 8 


250 


(250 leagues, or about 660^ miles.) 





No. 4. — From the City of Mexico to the City of Morelia, capital 
of the State of Afichoacan, for?nerly known as Valladolid. 



From Mexico to — 


I,eagues. 


Total 


Cuajimalpa, 


• 5 





Lerma, .... 


7 


12 


Toluca, .... 


4 


16 


Ixtlahuaca, .... 


9 


25 


San Felipe del Obraje, 


• 7 


32 


Hacienda de Tepetongo, 


8 


40 


Maravatio, 


. 9 


49 


Ucareo, .... 


6 


55 


Zinapecuaro, 


• 4 


59 


Indaparapeo. 


3 


62 


Charo, .... 


• 3 


65 


Morelia, .... 


4 


69 



(69 leagues, or 181 >^ miles approximately.) 



No. J. — From the City of Mexico to the City of Oajaca, capital 
of the State of the same name. 



From Mexico to — 
Ayotla, 
Rio Frio, 
San Martin, 
Puebla, 
Amozoe, . 
Tepeaca, 
La Venta, 
Tlalcotepec, . 
Tehuacan, 
San Sebastian, 



Leagues. 


Total 









14 




21 




28 




32 




36 




41 




46 


• 9 


55 


6 


61 



239 





T-eagues. 


Tota] 


LaVenta, 


2 


63 


La Calavara, 


7 


70 


San Juan de la Cues, 


. 8 


78 


Quiotepec, . 


4 


82 


San Pedro, 


. 6 


88 


Dominguillo, 


4 


92 


Trapichi de Aragon, 


. 6 


98 


San Juan, 


7 


105 


Oaxaca, .... 


. 7 


112 



(112 leagues, or 294^ miles in round numbers.) 



No. 6. — Frofn the City of Mexico to the Cities of Zacatecas and 
Durango, capitals of the States of the same names. 

From Mexico to— Leagues. Total. 

San Juan del Rio (see itinerary to 

Queretaro), 
La Palma, 
Chichimequillas, 
Los Ricos, . 
Jacales, 
Atotonilco, . 
Gallinero, 
Quemada, 
San Felipe, 
Santa Eugenia, 
Ojuelos, . 
Encinillas, 
Las Letras, 
Cuniga Grande, 
Santa Gertrudis, 
San Francisco de Adames 
Refugfio, . 
Zacatecas, 
La Calera, 
Fresnillo, 
Rancho Grande 
La Escondida, 



o 
6 
8 

5 

6 
7 
4 
8 

5 

7 
5 
6 

7 
5 
6 

7 
6 

7 
8 

5 



43 

49 

57 

63>^ 

68>^ 

74 
80 

87 

91 

99 
104 
III 
116 
122 
129 

134 
140 

147 
153 
160 
168 
173 



240 







Leagues. 


Total. 




Sain, .... 


. 6 


179 




Arenal, 


6 


185 . 




Sombrerete, 


• 5 


190 




Calabazal, 


6 


196 




Muleros, . 


5 


201 




San Quintin, 


7 


208 




La Punta, 


. 6 


214 




Anaracoyan, 


7 


221 




Durango, 


. 3 


224 




(224 leagues, or 589>^ miles 


in round numbers.) 


No 


7. — From the City of Mexico to the City of Culiacatty capital 




of the State of . 


Sinaloa. 






From Mexico to — 


Leagues. 


Total. 




Gualajara (see No. 3), 


• . iS9% 


mVz 




Amatitan, 


^0% 


170 




La Magdalena, 


• . s% 


17^% 




Hacienda de Mochitiltic, 


S% 


187^ 




Ixtlan, . . . . 


. 10 


I97K 




Ahuacatlan, 


3K 


200^ 




Hacienda de Titan, 


. . 5K 


206 




Hacienda de San Leonel, 


10 


216 




Cuidad de Tepic, 


• • 8K 


2Hyi 




Rancho de Santa, 


io>^ 


234K 




Santiago, 


• . 3^ 


238 




Posole, .... 


8 


246 




Rose Morada . 


6H 


^S2% 




Acaponeta, . 


16 


26^% 




Esquinapa, 


■ . i^% 


285^ 




Rosario, 


8 


293 >^ 




Potrerillo, 


. 4 


297 K 




Aguacaliente, 


5 


302 >^ 




Ciudad de Concordia, 


. 7 


309K 




Los Veranos, 


8 


317K 




La Nona, 


• • 5 


322K 




Limoncito, . 


9 


33i>i 




Coyotitan, . 


. , 3K 


354^ 



341 



Piastla, 

Elota, 

Guarimas, 

Higuerita, 

Vinapa, 

Abuya, 

Higueras de Abuya, 

Tlacuichamona, 

San Lorenzo, 

Salado, 

Milpa, . 

Pueblo Viego, . 

Carrizal, 

Culiacan, 



Leagues. 


Total. 


4 


358% 


. 8 


346^/^ 


lO 


356^/^ 


2 


358^/^ 


5 


363^/^ 


2 


365?^ 


2 


367^ 


• 5 


372 M 


4 


376^ 


4 


380^ 


2 


382^/^ 


• 3 


385^ 


2 


387 K 



8K 396 



iVb. 8, — From the City of Mexico to Ures, capital of the State 



of Sonora. 



From Mexico to— 

Culiacan (see No 

itinerary), . 
Moholo, 
Paredones, 
Las Higueras, 
La Mosita, 
Los Mescalitos, 
Palmar de los Leyvas, 
Mocosito, 
La Cienega, 
Los Coyotes, 
Rancho Negro, 
Los Cenllos, 
Sinaloa, 
Cabrera, 
Ocoroni, . 
Tarajera, 
Los Ojitos, 
Montoya, 



Leagues. Total. 



7 preceding this 



?6 


396 


3 


399 


4 


403 


4 


407 


4 


411 


5 


416 


7 


423 


4 


427 


6 


433 


3 


436 


3 


439 


2 


441 


2K 


443 


4 


447 


8 


455 


6 


461 


7 


468 


4 


472 



242 



Canutillo, 

Fuerte, 

Mesquite, 

Caranate, 

Jerocha, . 

Real de Alamos, . 

Comicari, . 

Real de Sobia, 

Rancho de los Vasitos 

Real de Baroyeca, 

Presidio de Buenavista, 

Comuripa, 

San Francisco de Borja 

Rancho de Sanguijuela^ 

San Jos6 de Pimas, . 

Hermosillo or Pitic, 

Molino de Monterey, 

Villa de Guadaloupe. 

Ures, 



Leagues. 


Total 


• 3 


475 


I 


476 


. 8 


484 


3 


487 


. 8 


495 


8 


503 


8 


511 


4 


515 


• 4 


519 


8 


527 


. i6 


543 


12 


567 


. 12 


555 


lO 


577 


. 6 


583 


II 


603 


• 5 


608 


6 


619 


. 2 


621 



No. p. — /^rom the City of Mexico to the City of Chihuahua, north- 
west J -4 north, 404 leagues. 



^rom Mexico to — 


Leagues. 


Total. 


Durango (see itinerary No. 6), . 


. 


234 


Sauz Bendito, 


ID 


244 


Molino de la Cienega, 


. ID 


254 


Molino de Huichapa, . 


12 


266 


San Salvador de Horta, . 


. II 


277 


Estancia del Casco, 


12 


289 


Hacienda de la Zarca, 


. 10 


299 


Cerro Gordo, 


14 


313 


La Parida, .... 


• 7 


320 


La Noria 


7 


327 


La Florida, 


. 6 


333 


Hacienda la Concepcion, 


3 


336 


de Salais, . 


10 


346 


del Rio del Parral, 


II 


357 



243 



Puerto de la Cruz, 
San Pablo, . 
Ojito, 
Chihuahua, . 



Leagues. Total. 

. I 2 369 

• I I 394 

10 404 



7 


7K 


A% 


iij^ 


8 


19K 


2 


21K 


5 


26^ 



7>^ 34 



No. 10. — From the City of Mexico to the Rio Grande via Tula, 

Ciiidad, Victoria and Guerrero, the straighiest route to 

reach the Texas frontier. 

From Mexico to— leagues. Total. 

Cuantitlan, large and Prosperous 

city, on the river of the same 

name, 

Huehuetoca — altitude, 2,296 metres, 

Atitalaquia, 

San Pedro Tlascuapa, 
Misquiahuala, .... 
Ixmiquilpan, a large Indian town 

whose altitude is 5,638 feet, 

Mountain pass between Ixmiquilpan and Zimapan the altitude 
is 8,383 feet ; to Rio de Moctezuma, situated west of the former 
mountains to a point where the road from Tecosantla to Zimapan 
crosses the river at the crossing of Las Maromas — altitude, 4,815 
feet. 



Zimapan, . , 

Las Adjuntas, 

Jiliapa, 

Pacula, 

Jalpan, 

La Purisima de Arista, 

Paculilla (S. G.), . 

Rancho de Tierra Fria, 

Rancho de Saus, 

Santa Maria Acapula, , 

San Ciro de Alberca, 

Rio Verde, . 

Cuidad del Maiz, 



Leagues. 


Total. 


. 10 


44 


4K 


48K 


. 4 


52>^ 


iX 


54 


. 8X 


62>^ 


4 


66K 


. 4 


lo% 


4 


UVz 


. 3 


77 }i 


5X 


83 


. 1% 


90X 


14 


io4>^ 


• 25 


I29>^ 



244 







Leagues. 


Total. 


Hacienda del Meco, 


. 


lO 


I39>^ 


Tula, 




. 8 


147^ 


Rancho de las Norias (road 


over 




timbered hills — water scarce), 


• 5 


I52>^ 


Las Presas, .... 


. 


5 


I57X 


Town of Palmillas, . 




. 6 


\6y/^ 


Town of Jamauve, 




5 


i68K 


La Maroma, .... 




. 2% 


171 


La Mulita, . . *. . 




3K 


174X 


Rancho de Minas, . 




. 4 


178X 


City of Victoria, . 




8 


i86>^ 


Town of Hidalgo, . 




• 17 


203X 


" Villagran, 




8 


iiiYz 


" Linares, 




• 14 


23S'A 


" San Cristoval, 




9 


244)2 


" Montemorelos, or el Pilon, 


6 


2S0/^ 


" Cadereita, . 




• 9 


259K 


" Pescheria Chica, 


. 


6 


265X 


SanJos6. .... 




• 4X 


270 


Serralvo, .... 


. 


lO 


280 


Guerrero, .... 




. 14 


294 


Bank of Rio Grande, . 


. 


2 


296 



From the City of San Louis Potosi to the Port of Tampico. 



From San Luis Potosi to — 

Hacienda de Laguna Seca (over a plain and 

partly rolling — a good wagon-road), 
Hacienda de la Corcobada (barren hills). 
Hacienda de Peotillos (over rocky hills). 
Ranch of the defile of San Jose (partly level 

and rolling), 

Indian town of San Isidro (broken and 

woody), 

Indian town of Turubiates (road as above). 
Hacienda de Viejo, .... 

Ranch of Qrulital (water scarce), 
Hacienda of Buena Vista, 



Leagues. 



10 
2 

2 



245 



Leagues. 

Rancho de la Incada, .... 

La Vignita, 

Rancho del Coronel (between this and the 
above mentioned point is the boundary- 
line between the State of San Luis 
Potosi and Tamaulipas — a rough road 
for wagons), 

Hacienda de la Viga, 

Hacienda de la Borrega, 

Town of Tula, 

La Boquilla, 

Los Gallos, . . . 

La Laja, , 

Town of Santa Barbara, 

Rancho del Chamal, . 

Cucharas, 

El Commandante, 

El Limon, 

Horcasitas or Magicatzin, 

Rancho del Carrizal (rocky road), . 

Chocoy (heavy sandy road to Tampico), 

Estero de la Tuna, 

Altamira or Villerias, .... 

Tampico, 



Total, 



Total. 

4 



3 
5 
3 
4 

4 
4 
5 
6 

4 
5 
4 
4 
6 
8 
6 
5 

lO 

6 



[42 



The Mexican league equals 5,000 varas, and the American 
mile 1,900 varas. 

Distance from San Luis Potosi to Tampico by the above route 
370 miles. 



Itinerary from San Luis Potosi to Victoria in Tamaulipas. 
From San Luis Potosi to — Leagues. 

Tula (the same road as described above), 65 
From Tula to Las Norias ranch (timbered 

hills — water scarce), .... 5 
Las Presas Rancho (road level and woody), 5 



246 



Leagues. Total. 

Town of Palmillas (about the Sierra), . 6 

Town of Jamauve (about the mountain and 

water scarce), 5 

La Maroma (rancho in the mountains — 

water scarce), i% 

La Mulita (water scarce), .... 3>i 
Mining place in the mountains (water 

abundant), 4 

Ciudad Victoria (road in the mountain — 

water plentiful, crossing a deep ravine 

called el Voladero), .... 8 

Total, ,104 



From Victoria to Soto Lamarina, 

From Victoria to— Leagues. 

The town of Casas or Croix, . . .12 
La Puerta, . . . . . . 10 

Soto la Marina (port), . . . .10 

Total, . . . . . . 32 



From Victoria to Monterey. 

From Victoria to— Leagues. 

Hacienda of Santa Engracia, ... 8 

Town of Hidalgo or Hoyos, ... 9 

Town of Villagran or Cerro de Santiago, . 8 

City of Linares, 14 

Town of San Cristoval, .... 9 

Town of Montemorelos or El Pilon, . 6 

Los Guajes, 12 

Monterey 3 

Total, 59 



347 



From Saltillo to Zacatecas — ii8 south south-west. 



illo to— 


League 


Encantada, . 


. 4 


San Juan Vaqueria, . 
Puerto del Capulin, 
Santa Elena, 


6 

. 4 

. . 8 


Rancho de Santiago, . 
Cedros, . . . 


. 9 
II 


La Candelaria, 


. 12 


Hacienda de Grunidora, 


. . 8 


Charco del Muerto, 


• 5 


Rancho del Gato, 


8 


Barranquita, ■ 
Sierra Hermosa, 


. 5 
3 


Sancarron, . 


. 7 


Pueblo de San Cosme, 


• . 7 


Hacienda de Banos, 


. 7 


San Antonio, . 


. . . . 6K 


" Guadaloupe, 
" Zacatecas, 


. 6 

. . . 1% 



From the town of Piedras Negras, in the State of Coahutla, 

Mexico {opposite Eagle Pass, Texas), to the Sierra 

Mojada mifies, ij8 leagues. 

From Piedras Negras to — 
The town of Morelos, . 
Las Cabeceras (spring), 
San Juande Sabinas, 
La Aura, . 
Obailos, 

Las Borregas, . 
La Rainas, 

Puerto del Carmen, .... 5 

Rancho Nuevo, ..... 3 

Cuatro Cienegas, 8 

Through the desert to Sierra Mojada, . . 50 

Total, 138 



Leagues. 
14 

6 
20 



248 

Itinerary from Saltillo, the present capital of the State of 

Coahuila, to the City of Durango, capital of 

the State of Durango, 

From Saltillo to— Miles. 
Hacienda de Buena Vista road over the 
battle-field where General Taylor won 
that glorious battle over General Santa 

Anna, 8 

Hacienda de Patos, one of the finest estates 

in the country, 31^ 

Castafiuela, i8>^ 

Town of Parras, well-buil place in a rich 

country, 21 

Hacienda la Pefia, rough road, forage scarce 39^ 
Alamo de Parras, level road, . . . i8>^ 
Estancia (stock ranch) de Poso y Calvo, . 31 1^ 
Rio Guanaval, dividing line between Coa- 
huila and Durango, .... 8 

Cuencame (large mining town ),good road 

between high mountains, . . . 39X 

Yerbanis, . . . . , • 16 

Tapias, . . . . . . .21 

Sauces (road rough), . . . . io>^ 

Porfias Rancho (level road), . . . i8>^ 
Hacienda del Chorro (good road — water 

scarce), 16 

City of Durango, 23^ 

Total, 322X 



249 



DILIGENCIAS GENERALES. 



GENERAL MEXICAN STAGE-LINE FARES. 



From Mexico to — 
Cuantitlan, 
Tula, . 

San Juan del Rio, 
Queretaro, 
Celaya, . 
Salamanca, 
Irapuato, 
Guanajuato, 
Leon, 

Lagos, ... 
San Juan de los Lagos, 
Guadalajara, 

From Lagos to Zacatecas, 
" Aguas Calientes to Zacatecas, 
Guadalajara to Zapotlan, 

From Mexico to — 

San Miguel, 

Dolores Hidalgo, . 

San Luis Potosi, 

Venado, .... 

Charcas, . . . , , 

Matehuala, .... 

Saltillo, 

Montery, .... 

From Montery to Metamoros, . 
" San Luis to Zacatecas, 
" Mexico to Morelia, . 
" Mexico to Cuemavaca, 
" Mexico to Cuautla, . 
" Zacatecas to Durango, 



Fare. 

$1 50 
4 GO 

12 GO 
15 OD 
18 CO 

21 00 

22 00 
25 00 
28 00 
31 GO 

34 00 
45 00 
10 00 

13 00 



19 00 
21 00 

32 GO 

38 GO 

40 GO 

46 GO 

64 GO 

69 00 

30 GO 

16 GO 

19 GO 

4 50 

6 GO 
12 GO 



i 



250 

Passengers on the general stage line are only allowed twenty- 
five pounds of baggage ; they are also allowed, when taking a 
through ticket, to stop at any point on the line where there is an 
agent of the company, by notifying said agent of their intention cf 
doing so upon their arrival at the station. Hotel fare on the line 
is $2, for supper, bed and breakfast ; price of meals, for breakfast 
or dinner, is 75 cents per meal. Most of the hotels in Mexico are 
kept on the European plan. 

Passengers carrying arms have to procure a permit from the 
authorities. 

ITINERARY OF THE FERROCARRIL MEXICANO (MEXICAN RAIL- 
WAY) FROM THE CITY OF MEXICO TO VERA CRUZ — PRINCI- 
PAL LINE. 

Stations. Distances in Kilometres, 

Mexico, 

Tepexpan, . . . . . . 32^^ 

San Juan Teotihuacan, ... 43^ 

Otumba, . . . . . . . 55>i: 

LaPalma, 61 X 

Ometusco, . . . . . . 6y}4 

Irolo 77 'X 

Apan g2% 

Soltepec, II 2X 

Guadaloupe, (hacienda), . . . .124 

Apizaco I39X 

Huamantla, .182 

Rinconada, . . ... . 200 

San Andres, 22o>^ 

Boca del Monte, . 25 iX M 

Alta Luz 257X ■ 

Bota, 266}i 

Maltrata, 271)^ 

Encmal 281 X 

Orizaba, 291 X 

Fortin, 310 

Cordova, 318 

Atoyac 337 X 



251 

Stations. Distances in Kilometres. 

Paso del Macho 347^ 

Camaron 360^^ 

Soledad 381^ 

Tejeria, 4<j8X 

Vera Cruz, 423X 

Branch to Puebla, 
Apizaco. 
Santa Ana, . . . . . . 16^ 

Panzacola, 3$ 

Puebla 47 

INFORMATION TO TRAVELERS. 

I. — Tickets sold to passengers are only good for the day they 
are sold, but passengers with through tickets are allowed to stop 
over night a Orizaba, if they desire it. 

2. — Passengers for Puebla must change and take the train at 
Apizaco. 

MEXICAN STEAMSHIP LINE. 

Line from Progreso to Bagdad and Tabasco. 

From Frontera to Progreso, touching at Laguna and Cam- 
peche, and from Frontera to Bagdad, at the mouth of the Rio 
Grande, touching at Minatillan, Vera Cruz, Tuxpan and Tampico. 

The agent of the line in Matamoros is Sr. Francisco Armendaiz. 

NAMES OF PROMINENT MERCHANTS RESIDING IN LAREDO, 
NUEVO MEXICO. 

Patricio Milmo, banker. 

Gilgan, importer of foreign goods and commission merchant. 
Francisco Viscaya, importer of foreign groceries and commis- 
sion merchant. 

Joseph Brosig, custom-house broker. 

NAMES OF PROMINENT MERCHANTS RESIDING IN MONTERY. 

Francisco Palacio, " La India." 
Francisco Oliver, commission merchant. 



252 

Pedro Mais. 

P. Milmo. 

John Weber, commission merchant. 



TABLE GIVING AN IDEA^OF THE EXTENSION AND VALUE OF 

SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL ESTATES SITUATED BETWEEN I 
THE CITY OF SALTILLO AND THE CITY OF MEXICO. j 

Of the largest of them there is not one to be found that con- ^ 
tains half of the area of that of " San Rafael del Salado and 
Aguadulce." 

From Saltillo to San Luis Potosi. 



Names of Haciendas. 

Agua Nueva, . 

Santa Helena, 

La Encarnacion, 

Potosi, . 

Penuelo, . 

Soledad, 

Rocamonte, 

San Tiburcio, 

Palo Blanco, 

Canelo, 

Salado, 

Vanegas, 

Carbonera, 

Pastorizo, 

La Tresa, 

Santa Gertrudis, . 

San Cristobal, . 

Solis, . . . , 

Guadaloupe Carnisero, 

Mingole, 

Laguna Seca, . 

Los Charcos, 

Coronado, 

Guaname, 

Cruces, 



Area in sq. m. 

no 

25 

50 
120 

120 

130 

45 
190 

90 

70 
600 
210 

45 
48 

52 

52 

36 
170 

84 

62 
130 



Value. 



60 

220 $500,000 
270 400,000 



253 



Names of Haciendas. 


Area 


in sq. m. 


Value. 


Bocas, . 


. 


48 


250,000 


Rancho de Bocas, . 


, 


40 


230,000 


La Parada, . 


. 


80 


400,000 


Tenasco, . 


. 


30 


150,000 


El Corte, 


. 


20 


100,000 



Between San Luis Potosi and Mexico. 



Names of Haciendas. 

Gallinas, . 

Cienega de Mata 

Mataza?, . 

La Tila, 

Peotillos, . 

Peso de Carmen, 

La Sauceda, 

Arroyos, 

La Laguna, 

Bledos, 

Tardo, 

Gogorron, 

Garal, 

Sauceda Mulatos, 

Carretas, . 

Norias de Charcas 

Santana de Lovasa 

Trancas, 

El Gallinero, , 

La Erre, 

Noria deVasques, 

La Venta, 

Tuerto de Nieto, 

Buena Vista, 

Chichimegillas, 

Amascala, . 

La Griega, 

La Esperanza, 

Cochitlan, 



Area in sq. m. 


Value. 


. 60 


250,000 


100 


500,000 


. 70 


300,000 


50 


250,050 


. 180 


500,000 


40 


400,000 


• 37 


150,000 


37 


120,000 


. 18 


130,000 


50 


500,000 


. 84 


180,000 


84 


600,000 


• 51 


800,000 


60 


250,000 


. 40 


, 200,000 


30 


400,000 


• 30 


250,000 


22 


200,000 


. 38 


150,000 


10 


450,000 


20 


200,000 


18 


160,000 


• 15 


1 20,000 


12 


150,000 


. 40 


350,000 


12 


160,000 


• 32 


160,000 


37 


230,000 


• 19 


1 50,000 



254 



James of Haciendas. 


Area in sq. m. 


Value. 


La Llave, 


32 


45o,cxx> 


Toachi, .... 


. 17 


140,000 


El Saus, . . 


20 


180,000 


Llano del Casadero, 


. 120 


800.000 


Venta Hermosa, . 


16 


1 20,000 


Arroyo Zarco, . 


. 70 


500,000 


La Goleta, . 


24 


150,000 


Canada Flautla, 


. 18 


160,000 


San Antonio Tula, 


20 


200,000 


Talpa, .... 


. 13 


300,000 


Batla 


8 


80.000 


ElSalto, .... 


9 


250,000 


Tetla, .... 


9 


250,000 


La Condesa, 


3 


200,000 


LaTeja, 


3 


150,000 


La Gaupa, 


9 


900,000 


San Juan de Dios, 


2 


150,000 


Potreros de Balmena, 


3 


170,000 


Ahuahuetes, 


2 


190,000 


Amores, . , . . 


I 


120,000 


El Cabrito, . 


I 


90,000 


El Hospital, . 


• 13 


350,000 



i 



There are many small estates that are worth millions of dollars, 
situated betvveen Oaeretaro and Mexico, not mentioned in this state- 
ment because their extension is insignificant when compared to 
their great value. 

In the estate of San Rafael del Salado and Aguadulce, parties 
who desire to enter largely upon stock-raising, agriculture and the 
development of mines, will find a vast and productive field baside 
the exploitation of the natural products, like the LechuguiUa Ma- 
guey, Zolmandoque, Palmetto, Cactus and Zotol, that will, if pro- 
perly worked, alone pay for the hacienda in less than ten years. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 



The present Government of Mexico — Mexican Independence, 
when, where and by whom proclaimed — The present 
constitution of Mexico — The different branches of govern- 
ment ^ Executive, Legislative and Judicial powers — The 
Cabinet and attributes of the several Secretaries, . . i 
Boundaries and present area of the Republic — The area of 
New Spain (Mexico) before its independence — Area of 
Mexican territory acquired by the United States, by 

treaty, 4 

Geographical position, 5 

Bays, gulfs, capes, islands, , . . . . . .5 

Rivers, their names and length, 6 

Mountains, their altitudes, 7 

Forest and vegetable productions, their names in the native 
languages, and their equivalent in English, as well as 

the botanical terms when possible, 8 

Population ; its estimate by Humboldt and Alaman — Char- 
acter of the people — The Mexican Indian — Population 

of Mexico in 1881, 10 

Antiquities, 12 

Etymolog}'- of the word Mexico 13 

Mexican dialects, 13 

The climate of Mexico, the future and resources of the country, 
its agriculture, the situation of Mexico more favorable 
than that of other countries situated under the same 
latitudes, 13 



258 

PACK. 

Considerable altitudes of the Mexican plateaus or table lands 
— Mountains of Mexico — The Mexican plateau extends 
from the iS*' to the 40° degree of north latitude, . .15 

Variety of climates and the different cultures on the two 
inclined planes or slopes that connects the plateau with 
the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, 16 

Mexico divided in relation to its climate in three zones : 

1 . Tierra caliente, the powerful vegetation of that region ; 

2. Tierra te?nplada, or temperate zone, the mildness of 
its climate, its resources ; 3. Tierra frz'a, or cold zone, its 
temperature — Favorable situation of Mexico — Proximity of 
the four great basins of unequal altitudes — Their differ- 
ent cultures, ... 16 

Temperament of divers plants in Mexico — The sugar cane, . 17 
The advantages of the climate of Mexico, superior to European 

countries and South America — The altitudes of the 

plateaus cf South America too great, . . . .17 

The great plains of South America are in width and length 

cut by deep ravines, 19 

Small number of volcanos in Mexico (earthquakes seldom 

happen), 20 

Small number of streams — Lack of water on the plateau, . 21 
Principal lakes near the City of Mexico, . . . . .21 
Saline substance in the soil in some portion of Mexico, . .21 
Botany — Medicinal plants — Tobacco — Various valuable 

gums, 22 

Flowers, 23 

Agriculture — The cultivation of corn, wheat, the maguey, the 

sugar-cane, cotton, coffee tree, tobacco, aniseseed, the 

cochinilla — Estimated value of agricultural productions, . 23 
Zoology — Venomous reptiles, etc 25 



359 

PAGE. 

Table showing the names of the different States composing the 
Republic of Mexico — Their area, their population, their 
capital and population in 1881, 27 

Political division of the Republic of Mexico and datas fur- 
nished by the latest census, 28 

Average revenue of the Mexican Republic — The revenue of 

the different States, 28 

The State of Aguas Calientes — Its boundaries, area, number of 

estates, population, its capital, its productions, . 28 

The State of Campeche — Boundaries, area, population, moun- 
tains, rivers, lakes, ports, natural productions — Its capital, 
Campeche — Value of real estate, 29 

The State of Coahuila — Indian tribes who inhabited the country 
when the Spaniards took possession of it — Its former 
dependencies — Its present area and population — Its 
political division — Its present capital, Saltillo — Descrip- 
tion of the same and all principal towns in the State — 
Dialects spoken — Production — Industry — Public instruc- 
tion — Mining in the State — Sierra Mojada and the 
mines of Matehuapile, 30 

The State of Chiapas — Situation, boundaries, area — Rivers, 
natural productions — PoHtical divisions — Its capital and 
population, . 34. 

The State of Chihuahua — Situation, boundaries, area — Topo- 
grafical aspect and cHmate — Lagoons, mountains, rivers, 
vegetable productions, agriculture, zoology, industry, 
mining, Indian tribes, population — Its capital, the City of 
Chihuahua — Description of some of the principal tovms, . 35 

The State of Colima — Boundaries, area, population — Moun- 
tains, sea ports, natural productions, political divisions, 
the City of Colima, 38 



360 

PAGB 

The State of Durango — Situation, limits, area — Rivers, moun- 
tains, industry, products of the mint, population — Principal 
cities and towns, 39 

The State of Guanajuato — Situation, boundaries and area — 
Rivers, principal cities and towns, mountains, population, 
dialects, principal villages, number of estates, value of the 
same mining, industry, 40 

The State of Guerrero — Situation, boundaries and area — 
Topographical aspect and climate — Rivers, lakes — 
Natural productions, mining, population, its present 
capital .43 

The State of Hidalgo — Boundaries, area, population, produc- 
tions — Principal cities and towns, . . * . .44 

The State of Jalisco — Situation, boundaries, area — Topo- 
graphical aspect and climate — Seaports — Rivers, lakes, 
mountains, vegetable productions, agriculture, mines, 
zoology, territorial divisions, population, principal cities 
and towns, industry, ....... 44 

The State of Mexico — Boundaries — Political divisions — Its cap- 
ital, the City of Toluca, population, 48 

The State of Michoacan — Situation, boundaries, area — Topo- 

■ graphical aspect and climate — Rivers, lakes, mountains, 

natural productions, zoology, mining, political division, 

population, dialects, real estate, industry, cities and 

towns, 49 

The State of Morelos — When created a State — Its boundaries 
— Area — Population — History — Principal cities and towns 
— Value of real estate 51 

The State of Nuevo Leon — Situation, boundary and area — 
Population, mountains, rivers — Census — Natural produc- 
tions, fruits, vegetables and grain — Stock raising — Wild 
animals, birds, fish — Thermal waters, mines — Schools, 
principal cities and towns — Statistics, agricultural produc- 
tions in 1878, 52 



261 



The State of Oaxaca — Situation, boundaries and area — Topo- 
graphical aspect and climate — Rivers — Natural produc- 
tions, zoology, mining — Population, principal cities and 
towns, President Juarez, 55 

The State of Puebla — Boundaries and area — Population — 
Mountains, rivers, climate and natural productions — 
Mining, industry — Principal cities and towns . . .56 

The State of Queretaro — Boundaries, area and climate — 
Rivers — Natural productions — Industry — Population — 
City of Queretaro 58 

The State of San Luis Potosi — Situation, boundaries and area 
— Climate — Mountains, rivers — Natural productions — 
Stock — Wild animals — Mines — Political divisions — 
Public instruction — The City of San Luis Potosi, its 
commerce — Other cities and towns — The Hacienda of 
Salado, . . . 59 

The State of Sinaloa — Situation, boundaries and area — 
Topographical aspect and climate — Rivers — Natural 
productions — Mining — Population — Principal cities and 
towns — The port of Mazatlan . . . . . -63 

The State of Sonora — Situation, boundary and area — Topo- 
graphical aspect and climate — Rivers — Natural produc- 
tions — Zoology — Mining — Political divisions — Popula- 
tion — Census — Indians — Principal cities and towns — 
The port of Gua yamas, 64 

The State of Tabasco — Boundaries and area — Climate — Water 

communications — Population, ...... 61 

The State of Tamaulipas — Boundaries and area — Climate — 
Rivers, lakes, mountains — Products, fruit trees, etc. — 
Stock-raising — Game — Mineral products — Territorial 
divisions — Principal cities and towns — Population — 
Schools — Public lands — Historical sketch, . . .68 



The State of Tlaxcala — Situation, boundaries and area — 
Topographical aspect — Lakes — Natural productions — 
Climate — Mining — Political divisions — Population — The 
City of Tlaxcala — Commerce — Census, . . . .73 

The State of Vera Cruz — When created — Boundaries and area 
— Population — Principal cities and towns — Natural pro- 
ductions — Mines, 74 

The State of Yucatan — Boundaries — Etymology of the name 
Yucatan — Principal cities and towns — Population — 
Natural productions — Industry, 76 

The State of Zacatecas — Situation, boundaries and area — 
Population — Configuration, topographical aspect and cli- 
mate — Mountains — Natural productions — Minerals — Prin- 
cipal cities and towns — Census, . . . . '17 

The Territory of Lower California, situation, boundaries and 
area — Topografical aspect and climate — Islands, capes, 
bays, ports — Natural productions — Mining — The capital. 
La Paz, 79 

Federal District of Mexico — Its boundaries — Area — Popula- 
tion — Political divisions — Real estate, etc. — The City of 
Mexico — Description of the City of Mexico — Its situation 
— Vegetation — Soil of the valley — Its foundation — Etymo- 
logy of the word Mexico — Its population at the time of the 
conquest — Its buildings and institutions — Its monuments : 
La Fuente del Salto del Agua, La Fuente de la Tlaxpana, 
La Plazuela de Santo Domingo, Iturbide market (ancient 
square of St. John, La Plazuela de Guardiola, El Sagrario, 
Palacio Municipal (City Hall), Iturbide Hotel, or stage 
hotel (the ancient residence of the Emperor Iturbide) — 
National Theatre — Plaza Mayor (Main square) — The Ca- 
thedral of Mexico — The Walk of Buccareli — The College 
of Mines (where Gen. U. S. Grant, ex-President of the 
United States, received hospitality from the Mexican Gov- 



263 

PAGC 

emment while visiting Mexico) — El Paseo de la Viga — 
The street of Roldan Bridge — Environs — Public educa- 
tional institutions of the city — Description of the Sanc- 
tuary of the Holy Virgin of Guadaloupe, patroness of 
Mexico, 80 

History of mining in Mexico under Spanish rule — The Arizona 
bonanza and a title — The gold placers of Sonora — Que- 
bradilla produces great wealth — The Catorce mines and 
the viceroy — The mines of Guanajuato — The Zacatecas 
mines — Mammoth veins — Coinage of the mint in the City 
of Mexico — The product of La Valenciana — Until 1848 
Mexico was the first country on the face of the earth for 
the product of precious metals — History of Mexican mines 
— The discovery of the Patio process, or cold amalgama- 
tion process of working ores — Humboldt's opinion — Mr. 
Dupont's opinion — Mints and assaying offices — Coinage — 
American gold and silver production since 1848, . . 96 

Catalogue of the principal mining districts situated in the dif- 
ferent States of the Republic, and description of some of 
their principal mines, . . . . . . .104 

State of Aguascalientes — Mines of magistral (this metal 
is only found in Mexico, and is indispensable to work cer- 
tain classes of ore), 104 

State of Chihuahua, one of the richest in minerals of the 
Republic — Catalogue of mining districts situated in said 
State, giving the number of mines in each mining district 
{mineral), the names of the districts, in what canton they 
are situated, class of ores, and whether exploited or idle — 
date of the discovery of the principal mines in Chihuahua, 
names of mines classified according to their richness, . 105 



264 

PAGE. 

State of Coahuila — Number of mines worked at one time, 
their ores — San Juan de Guadaloupe, Santa Rosa, Viezca, 
etc, . . . . , 112 

State of Durango — The inexhaustible iron mountain Cerro del 

Mercado — Its discovery — Report of assays of the same, . 1 14 

State of Guanajuato — The names of some of its principal 

mining districts, . .115 

State of Guerrero — one of the richest in the Republic — 
number of mines in said State and names of some of its 
principal mining districts, . . , . . .115 

State of Hidalgo— La Huastesca — some of its most important 
mineral districts — Jecker, the banker, who was the cause 
of the French intervention in Mexico, . . . .116 

State of Jalisco — Description of its mining wealth — Statement 
showing the amount of coin produced by some of the 
mines in this great State — Table showing the mineral dis- 
tricts in the State, 117 

State of Mexico — Its mining wealth, . . . . .119 

State of Michoacan — Its most celebrated mines ; their ores, . 1 20 

State of Morelos — Some of its principal mines ; their class of 

ores, 121 

State of Nuevo Leon — Its minerals — Names of some of the 
principal mining districts — Reports from official documents 
— Extract taken from the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Don 
Melchior Vidal de Lorca about the mines of this State in 
1775 — Extract of the report of Don Simon de Herrera 
about the mines of Nuevo Leon — Class of ores found at 
the I^-zmna mints, 121 

State of Oaxaca — Some of its mining districts, . . .124 

State of Puebia — But little of its mineral wealth is known, . 1 24 



265 

FACE. 

i State of Queretaro — Its mineral wealth — Variety of metals 

found in this State — Mines worked in 1881, . . .125 

San Luis Potosi — Great wealth of this State yet undeveloped — 
Its principal mining districts — Historical sketch of the 
Guadalcazar mining district — Historical notice of the 
mining district of Charcas — Mining district of Ramos — 
— Mining district of Ojo CaHente — The names of 
some rich mines, such as la Nevada, la Pastora, San . 
Pedro and la Ventura, situated on lands of the estate of 
San Rafael del Salado — Number of mines worked or idle 
in the State, 126 

State of Sinaloa — Metals produced by the mines in the State — 
Names of some of its principal mining districts — Number 
of known mines in the State, 129 

State of Sonora — Great reputation of this State for its mining 
wealth — Immense masses of virgin iron, rich copper mines, 
gold placers — Description of some of its principal mining 
districts — Statement showing the mines actually worked in 
the district of Magdalena, giving the number of mines in . 
each mining district, names of mines, locality, hacienda 
or ranch, where situated, and name of municipality, . 130 

State of Tamaulipas — Present state of mining industry in that 

State — Names of some of the mining districts and mines, 136 

State of Zacatecas — The first of the Repubhc for its mineral 
productions — Statement giving the names of the mining 
districts, and names of their mines, class of metals 
actually exploited in the State — Statement giving the 
names of the mining districts in said State actually 
paralyzed — Description of some of the principal mining 
districts, 137 



266 

PAGE. 

The States of Chiapas, Colima, Vera Cruz and Yucatan are 
classified among the poorest of Mexico for their mineral 
wealth. Some few mines are worked in each of them, . 146 

Territory of Lower California — This large territory is rich in 
minerals — Number of mines and their class of ores in the 
municipalities of La Paz, San Antonio, Todos Santos, 
Santiago, San Jos6 del Cabo, Mulege, Comondu and Santo 
Tomas — Stone Coal, different localities where it is known 
to exist in the Republic — Petroleum, different localities 
where it is known to exist in the Republic, . . .147 

American silver mining in Chihuahua — The Santa Eulalia 
Mining Company — The Cusihuiriachic mines — The Rich 
Mountain Mining Company — The Corralitas mines — 
The Batopilas mines — The Chihuahua Silver Mining 
Company — The consoHdated mines of Hidalgo or Parral 
— The Hidalgo Mining Company — The Philadelphia 
Mining Company, 1 50 

Mining in Nuevo Leon — The Texas-Mexican Mining and 
Smelting Company — Organization, prospect and property 
of the company — The Rosario Mining Company, . • 153 

Railroads in Mexico — List of railroads in operation during 

the year 1880, 156 

The Vera Cruz Railroad, , . .157 

Table showing the railroad concessions granted by the Mexican 

Government from August, 1877, to February 3d, 188 1, .158 

Sketch of some of the most important railroad charters 
granted by the Mexican Government to American com- 
panies, , . . 161 

The International and Interoceanic Railway Company, . .162 

The New York, Texas and Mexican Railroad (better known 

as Count Telfener's road), 163 

The Mexican National or Palmer-Sullivan Railroad, and its 

several divisions, 164 



267 

PAGE. 

The Mexican Pacific, 165 

Telegraphic lines in the Republic of Mexico, . . . .166 

Weights and measures, 16S 

Mexican land measures translated from the Ordinanzas de 

tierras y aguas, 168 

Table showing the old Mexican or Spanish land measure com- 
pared with the metrical system and our American acres, 1 70 
English weights and measures compared with the metrical 
system of weights and measures — Linear measures, super- 
ficial measures, measures of capacity, weights, . .171 
Items of interest to importers of merchandise into the Republic 

of Mexico, 173 

Tariff of public lands in 1876, 173 

Abridged Mexican tariff on imports, 175 

New Tariff Law of June 25th, 1 88 1, 177 

Late decree concerning the revenue, 183 

Naturalization laws, 185 

Abstract of the laws for the acquisition and ownership of real 

estate and mines, 187 

Synopsis of Mexican laws on inheritance, .... 191 

Information for persons desiring to purchase real estate or 

make contracts of any kind in Mexico, . . . .191 
Statistics — Federal revenue for the fiscal year 1 879-1 880, . 192 

Statement of the revenue and expenditures of the different 
States of the Republic of Mexico during the fiscal year 

1879 to 1880, 193 

Statement showing the expenditures of the different branches 
of the Mexican Government for the fiscal year 1879- 
1880, ........... 194. 

The value of real estate 195 

Statement showing the value of real estate in each of the States 

of the Mexican Republic in 1 88 1, 196 



268 

PAGE. 

Mining statistics — Products of the mines in Mexico from 1537 
to 1 82 1, and after the independence from Spain was 

achieved, 197 

Table showing the exports of timber to foreign countries from 

the Republic of Mexico for the fiscal year ending in 1875, 197 
Total imports from foreign countries into the Republic of 

Mexico during the fiscal year ending in 1875, . . .198 
Table indicating the cost of raising and gathering one arroba 
or twenty-five pounds of cotton in the divers States of the 
Republic, and its cost laid down at the nearest port of 

exports, , . . 198 

Table showing the number of public schools in the various 

States and in the Territory of Lower California, the cost 

of their maintenance in the year 1 880, .... 200 

Table showing the altitudes of some of the most important 

points in the Republic, taken from the best authorities on 

the subject, . . . 201 

Mexican stamp duty (abridged), 203 

The Maguey plant, or agave americana, .... 207 

Itineraries of routes through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, 

Nicaragua and Panama from the Atlantic side, . .210 

From New Orleans to the port of La Ventosa, . . . 210 

" " " the Port of San Juan del Sur, . .210 

" " " Panama, . . . . . .210 

New York, via Tehuantepec, to La Ventosa . . .210 
" " " Nicaragua, to San Juan del Sur, . .210 

" " " Panama, to Panama, . . . .210 

La Ventosa to San Francisco, 210 

San Juan del Sur to San Francisco, . . . .210 
Panama to San Francisco, 210 



269 

PAGE. 

Route No. I, from the city of San Antonio, Texas, to the 

city of Mexico, overland, 210 

Route No. 2, from Piedras Negras, in the State of Coahuila, to 
the town and old presidio of La Punta de Lampasas, in 
the State of Nuevo Leon — Distance, by way of the 
Alamo de los Borregos, 134 miles, 211 

Route No. 3, from San Antonio de La Punta de Lampasas, in 
Nuevo Leon, passing through Laredo — San Antonio to 
Laredo (by the wagon road), 170 miles, Laredo to La 
Punta, 79 miles, together 249 miles, 212 

Route No. 4, from the town of Lampasas to Villa Aldama, 

Salinas and Monterey ; distance, 103 miles, . . . 213 

Description of the city of Monterey, 215 

Route No. 5, from Piedras Negras, by way of Monclova, leav- 
ing out Santa Rosa and traveling the straightest and best 
road, where water and forage is found at all seasons of the 
year, 170 miles. From Monclova to Saltillo, 134 miles, . 217 

Route No. 6, from the city of Saltillo, the capital of the State 
of Coahuila, to the city of San Luis Potosi, capital of the 
State of the same name, 266 miles, . . . . 220 

Route No. 7, from Queretaro to the city of Mexico, the 

capital of the Republic, 1 34>^ miles, . . . .231 

Distances, in Mexican leagues, from the City of Mexico to some 

of the principal cities of the Republic, .... 234 

Itinerary No. i, from the City of Mexico to the cities of Quere- 
taro, San Luis Potosi, Saltillo, Monterey and Matamoros, 235 

No. 2, from the City of Mexico to the port of Acapulco on the 

Pacific Ocean, . 236 

No. 3, from the City of Mexico to Queretaro, Guadalajara, 
capital of the State of Jalisco, and the port of San Bias 
on the Pacific Ocean, 236 



270 

PAGE. 

No. 4, from the City of Mexico to the City of Morelia, capital 

of the State of Michoacan, 238 

No. 5, from the City of Mexico to the City of Oaxaca, capital 

of the State of the same name, 238 

No. 6, from the City of Mexico to the cities of Zacatecas and 

Durango, capitals of the States of the same names, . 239 

No. 7, from the City of Mexico to the City of Culiacan, 

capital of the State of Sinaloa, 240 

No. 8, from the City of Mexico to Ures, the capital of the 

State of Sonora, 241 

No. 9, from the City of Mexico to the City of Chihuahua, 

capital of the State of Chihuahua, 242 

No. 10, from the City of Mexico to the Rio Grande, via Tula, 
Ciudad, Victoria and Guerrero — the straightest route to 

reach the Texas frontier, 243 

From the City of San Luis Potosi to the port of Tampico, . 244 
Itinerary from San Luis Potosi to Victoria, in Tamaulipas, . 245 
From Victoria to Soto Lamarina, ..*... 246 
From Victoria to Monterey, capital of the State of Nuevo Leon, 246 

From Saltillo to Zacatecas, 247 

From Piedras Negras, in the State of Coahuila, Mexico (oppo- 
site the town of Eagle Pass, Texas), to the Sierra Mojada, 247 
Itinerary from Saltillo, the present capital of the State of Coa- 
huila, to the City of Durango, capital of the State of the 

same name, 248 

Fares of the general Mexican stage line — Regulations of the 

same line, 249 

Itinerary of the Ferrocarril Mexicano (Mexican railway) be- 
tween Vera Cruz and the City of Mexico, . . .250 

Information to travelers, 251 

Mexican steamship line, 251 



271 

PAGE. 

Names of prominent merchants residing in Laredo, New 

Mexico, 251 

Names of prominent merchants residing in Monterey, . .251 
Table giving the extent and value of some of the principal 
estates situated between the City of Saltillo and the City 
of Mexico, 252 



LORENZO CASTRO, 



'rEMERAl^ ^USIMESS ItQEMT, 



San Antonio, Texas. 



Thirty years' experience in the Real Estate Business in 
Texas and Mexico. Will furnish valuable information for 
)rofitable investment of capital in Mexico, where high rates 
yi interest can be obtained. 

Will locate or purchase lands and mines in any State of 
the Republic and give perfect titles and possession of the 
same. 

Will investigate all titles and furnish abstracts of the 
same. 

Will also prosecute the rights of legatees to property in 
Mexico. 

Has now for sale valuable mining interests and several 
large productive Haciendas (estates) in the northern States 
of Mexico, varying in area from 25 to 200 leagues in one 
block. 

Will also prosecute all kinds of claims against the Gov- 
ernments of the United States and Mexico. 

Charges entirely conventional ; full satisfaction guaran- 
teed. Correspondence in English, Spanish and French 
solicited. 



ADVERTISE 



£C 



LA REVISTA 



J> 



A Daily Newspaper, published at 

MONTEREY, 
State of Nuevo Leon, Republic of Mexico, 

BY 

DESIDERIO LAGRANGE. 



The best Advertising Medium in the northern frontier States ol 

Mexico. Circulation greater than any other Daily 

in the State of Nuevo Leon. 

RUSSELL HOWARD, 
COUNSELLOR AND ATTORNEY-AT-LAW. 



Well versed In Spanish and Mexican Land Laws. 
More than thirty years' practice in all U. S. Courts. 

Office, SOLEDAD STREET, in the Devine Building, 

CITY OF SAN AKTOMO, Bexar Co., TEXAS. 
HARRISON & HARRISON, 

jeLTTOK.2srEirS--A.T-Ij.A."V7". 



Will attend promptly to any business 
entrusted to their care. 

OFFICE IN THE DEVINE BUILDING, SOLEDAD ST. 

CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, Bexar Co., TEXAS. 



FRANCISCO ARMENDAIZ, 

Plaza del comercio, 

MONTEREY, 

Wholesale and Retail Dealer lu 

Ty Goods and Groceries, 

MICM HOME HANDFACTURES, 

J 

of all kinds of Foreign Merchandise. 



HAT AND LEATHER MANUFACTURERS. 



Beside the above this house does a General Commission Business, 
receives orders for Importations and Exportations of all kinds of mer- 
chandise and produce. It also offers its services to its customers and the 
public in general for all commercial transactions in their various branches, 
and also for the purchase and sale of Stock, Agricultural and Industrial 
interests. 

FREDERICO PALACIO, 

Principal representative of the House at 
MONTEREY, MEXICO. 



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